Listen 2 Me

Lee Kvern (she/her) has been writing for almost thirty years, and she hasn’t met a writer that she doesn’t like. Lee can always find the good in people—or, at the very least, the interesting—and her award-winning short stories ("White", 2007 CBC Prize for Fiction; "Visibility", 2006 CBC Alberta Anthology; "Fourteen", 2007 CBC Alberta Anthology; "Detachment", 2010 Malahat Open Season Award finalist; "The Nothing Yard", 1999 Heritage Short Story Contest) and celebrated novels (The Matter of Sylvie, Afterall) tend to feature characters you might call 'unlikeable'—but that's the fun of writing them, and seeing where their stories end up. Lee joins Gio and Renée to talk about how far she's come in her career and how far she still wants to go, story building craft, and how to have it all as a parent, an employee and an author—hint: you have to pick your priorities. Detours include the odd jobs authors tend to have, the joy of making yourself a nuisance to elected officials, and the pleasure of teaching yourself how to make art for art's sake. Find Lee on social media @leekvern. 

Want to support the show? Check out our bonus content on Patreon.

Gio Petrucci: giografik.com

Renée Meloche: reneewrought.com

Daven Seebarran (he/him) may be a natural introvert, but you'd never know it from his work advocating for non-profit funding, social equity and resource accessibility. On top of his regular work, Daven used the 2020 quarantine to translate his lifelong love of drag into an online space where fans could connect with drag performers and aspiring queens could learn from virtual drag instructors. That has since become the booming online Drag Academy—dedicated to digital programming that includes performances, a podcast, virtual drag classes and bursaries. Daven talks about writing bursaries, the early drag scene in Edmonton, leveraging creativity in order to solve complex issues of social inequity, and the importance of intersectionality, diversity and authenticity in artistic programming. Check out the dragacademy.ca for available programs, and find Daven at davenseebarran.com.

Support L2M by checking out our bonus content on Patreon.

Gio Petrucci: giografik.com

Renée Meloche: reneewrought.com

In the spring of 2020, 16-year-old playwright, poet, screenwriter and filmmaker Eli Smart (he/they) and 14-year-old artist and filmmaker Caelan Bell (he/him) found themselves "coping" as best they could with the upheaval and uncertainty of quarantine, online learning, social isolation and political divisiveness caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the help of collaborators and their mentor, author and playwright Kim Firmston (she/he/they), Eli Caelan set out to make sense of this strange new world through the medium of film with their docu-short Adaptation in the Impoverished City. Caelan, Eli and Kim join Renée and Gio to discuss how the project came together, what these accomplished young creatives are going to pursue next, and how connecting with other creatives during such a fraught time inspired them to keep going. Stay up to date on the Adaptation in the Impoverished City by following them @adaptationyyc. 

Support L2M by checking out our Patreon. 

Gio Petrucci: giografik.com

Renée Meloche: reneewrought.com

Like the show? Drop some love on our socials @listen2mepod or check out our Patreon for bonus content!

Gio Petrucci: giografik.com

Renée Meloche: reneewrought.com

Myspace Forever! In this two-parter, Gio and Renée explore the creation and advent of popular social media platforms and their evolution into content farms, where creatives feel the pressure to market themselves and their work in an authentic, accessible way while still getting those ad revenue dollars. 📱 In Part 1, Renée takes Gio down a historical rabbit hole of social media sites and the most popular ones through the years up to now, including Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest and TikTok and Renée's forever fave, Tumblr. We're talking about ads, verification, flaming in the comment sections, and DMs. In Part 2, Gio and Renée discuss their experience using the sites (the successes and failures) for promotion of their work, and what they've seen other creatives accomplish.  🚧 Detours in this part include Gio's coffee detox, Renée's ADHD rambles and Gio's vision of a WALL-E style future. 🤖 Go to patreon.com/listen2mepod to listen to Part 2 of this episode! 💖Connect with Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com.

Representation in film and media for anyone other than white dudes has been an on-going problem, from the inception of Hollywood to present day. But representation and diversity in the film industry is also a huge problem. Andrea Beça (they/them) is a filmmaker, editor and writer from Edmonton (currently based in British Columbia) who created Solidarity Film Camp, for diverse individuals interested in learning the ins and outs of the film industry in a safe and accessible space. Andrea created a documentary about Solidarity Film Camp (watch it here) and in this episode, they join Gio and Renée to talk about how crucial representation and diversity are, Andrea's experience in film school, theatre productions vs films, and the importance of community collaboration. Find Andrea at abecaproductions.com and on social media @contessabessa. Like the show? Subscribe, rate us on iTunes, and check out our Patreon if you want to support the show.💖 Connect with Renée at reneewrought.com and Gio at giografik.com.

Have you ever wondered how hiking to Mt. Everest basecamp relates to writing and producing a poetry-based, one-woman show? Ellen Kartz (she/her) is here to tell you. Ellen joins Gio and Renée to talk about her diverse career in Alberta's writing scene, the launch of her small press, Armistice, for emerging, local 2SLGBTQIA+ poets, and her involvement with the Edmonton Poetry Festival and the Writers' Guild of Alberta. Go to armisticepress.blogspot.com to find out more about Armistice Press and follow Ellen on social media @e_kartz. Like the show? Check out patreon.com/listen2mepod to find out how you can support it! 💖Connect with Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com.

Lannie Johnston (they/them) is a printmaker and visual artist whose fascination with corporeal shapes is a thread through their art. Renée and Gio chat with Lannie about how they fell in love with the study of printmaking, what draws them to the aesthetic of body horror, and their experience with mental health and chronic illness and how those factors have shaped their relationship to their art. ⚠️TW: discussions of depression and chronic pain. Detours include Renée's recent unemployment and attempts to destigmatize social benefits, Studio Ghibli's film canon, and monsterf*cking. See more of Lannie's art on Instagram @sumzerbutt and go to patreon.com/listen2mepod for more information on how to keep Listen 2 Me podcast online! Connect with Gio: giografik.com and Renee: reneewrought.com.

Lisa Murphy-Lamb (she/her) came to writing through education, and her passion for creating inclusive, artist-friendly spaces has made her a fixture of the southern Alberta writing community. Lisa joins Gio and Renée to talk about her many projects: from publishing her young adult novel, Jesus on the Dashboard, her work as an editor at small press Stonehouse Publishing, the founding of New Forum Magazine and Loft 112 and its current community art installations. We cover so much! Detours include Dolly Parton, teenage bus drivers, and the impact of mentorship on creatives' success. A rising tide lifts all boats, baby! See more of Lisa's initiatives on social media: @newforumab @loft112 @stonehousepbl • Enjoying L2M? Leave us some love in a review, and check out patreon.com/listen2mepod to see how you can support the show! Find us online: Gio at giografik.com and Renee: reneewrought.com

Haui, aka Howard J. Davis (he/they) is a multidisciplinary artist who defies categorization. His latest project, Mixed↑ (MixedUp Film) is available to stream on Amazon Prime, AppleTV, OutTV, FROOT and TVNZ OnDemand. Mixed↑ is part documentary, part visual performance, part spoken word poem, and part personal essay about the challenges and triumphs that come with straddling different identities. Haui joins Gio and Renée for a special two-part interview: in this part, we discuss their career in many disciplines, their creative path so far and their experiences creating a personal project like Mixed↑. In a second, bonus episode available exclusively on Listen 2 Me Patreon, we dive deeper into the behind-the-scenes of Mixed↑ film. Find Haui at haui.ca and on the socials @hauidavis; and if you like what you hear, help support the show by going to patreon.com/listen2mepod. For as little as $1 a month you can help us keep the creativity flowing right into your earholes! 

Are you tired of feeling like you're missing out on all the good stuff in life? Is it getting harder to reconnect with the joy of your creative practice as we continue to live with the uncertainty of a peri-pandemic world? Same here! Allow Gio and Renée to introduce you to the alternative: JOMO (or, the Joy of Missing Out). In this episode, we walk you through our own struggles connecting to our creative practices, and our strategies for reconnecting with the things that actually matter (hint: it rhymes with "get off the smocial smedia"). Detours include the recent online writing conference Renée attended; the no-f*cks threshold age; and a quick recap of some of Renée and Gio's fave Vines (RIP). ⚠️Trigger warning: mentions of Canadian Indian Residential Schools; violence against trans people; police brutality; depression and death. We'd love to keep bringing new episodes to you! Check out our Patreon for ways to support the show: patreon.com/listen2mepod! 💖Connect with Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com.

Dustin Archibald (he/him) is always open to learning new things: whether it's martial arts, computer programming, or how to get into character as a college-student-stalking stranger on the set of an indie movie in rural Alberta (pro tip: duct tape an x-acto knife to yourself). But one thing has consistently drawn him in: the love of storytelling. Gio and Renée hear about Dustin's experience writing his Asha Anderson series for young adults (The Dragon and The Way Station available now); his creative approach to editing and writing; and the impact of mental illness on writing productivity. You can find Dustin at dcarchibald.com, and the socials @DCArchibald. We're trying to grow our audience, so every follow, review and retweet helps! Check out our Patreon for more on how you can support the show: patreon.com/listen2mepod.💖Connect with Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com.

Chantelle Quow (she/her) is a Business Strategy and Finance Consultant, and the President of CQ Business Consulting Inc. She improves organizations and businesses by evaluating, developing, and implementing strategic plans—basically, she uses her multiple areas of expertise to teach business owners the way to get from Point A to Point B better. Chantelle chats with Gio and Renée about her work as a business blueprint and community builder, collaborating with other entrepreneurs to leverage resources each might not otherwise have, her advocacy and research around the challenges the BIPOC community faces when navigating Canada's entrepreneurial industry. You can connect with Chantelle at cqbusinesscoach.com, and on Instagram and Twitter @cqbc_inc. Like the show? Go to patreon.com/listen2mepod to support us! See more of our work: Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com.

Brian R. Williams (he/him) is an artist, graphic designer, college art instructor and webcomic creator. He joins Gio and Renée to chat about his studies in Illustration, Fine Art and Art History, and art crime; his success in turning several part-time jobs into a full-time career; his experience working in museums; his fascination with Bigfoot and his comic Orick & Argyle; the way he links narrative storytelling with visual expression; and the inspiration behind his evocative illustrations that fuse the history of human industry with the intriguing forms of the natural world. Bonus topics include repatriation of artefacts stolen by museums, the Bigfoot Research Organization, and Brian and Renée discovering that they are creative soul sisters. You can subscribe to Brian's comic Orick & Argyle at www.patreon.com/orickandargyle. Find more of Brian's work at brianrwilliams.com and @grey_graphite on Instagram. Want to keep Listen 2 Me pumping? Check out patreon.com/listen2mepod! 💖Connect with Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com.

Gio and Renée use this Work In Progress episode to check in on multiple topics, including: soft and hard g's, Gio's audio mixing and censoring, taking a break from pushing ourselves through pandemic-induced brain fog, heteroflexibility and whatever the hell Omegle is. The conversation quickly devolves into Gio asking Renée what they've been reading lately, and a discussion of the 🌶️️descriptive sex🌶️ in modern romance novels. ⚠️WARNING: a lot of spicy language during that segment.⚠️ Bonus topics include Renée speaking to her experience with burning herself out in order to distract from anxiety, and Gio waxing poetic about the joy of planning and hosting dinner parties. Trigger warning for discussion of depression, anxiety, alcoholism and gender dysphoria. If you want to support the show, please check out patreon.com/listen2mepod! 💖Connect with Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com.

Stacey Gonder (she/her) isn't shy about putting her passion for glitter and sass into clothing that looks as good as it feels, constructed for people who like to move. 💃🕺 Her love of dance and creative expression helped birth Flash Design Co. and the House of Sass & Magic, and her experience and expertise in constructing garments and costumes is what has helped her cater to underrepresented segments of the dance community. Gio and Renée hear from Stacey about how surprising her career trajectory has been so far, what we can all take away from rave culture, and the joy of connecting with other creatives through her Maker Monday and Friends Friday podcast series. Follow @flashdesignco and @housesmtdot to see more of Stacey's work and designs. Like this episode? Want to keep the L2M party going? Check out patreon.com/listen2mepod! Connect with Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com.

Sarah Feinstein (she/her) takes the time to connect with Gio and Renée from her home in northwest India to talk about the journey of her life so far: from studying analog photography as an art student in Toronto, to working as a medic in the backwoods of Yukon to pay off her student loans, then moving to northern India to study with a meditation community in the mountains, and finally setting up Superfein Design, her boutique design studio, from her current home in Himchal Pradesh. Sarah shares her wisdom about trying, failing, and persevering; learning from some (epic) failures, and bringing the spirit of inquiry and growth to her business practice. Follow @superfein on Instagram for more, and bookmark theselfreunion.com to see what Sarah's been working on. Love the show? Interested in keeping it going? Become a patron at patreon.com/listen2mepod! Connect with Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com.

Have you ever wanted to hear Gio and Renée ask each other icebreaker questions from a 1970s corporate team-building exercise? Well, you're in luck! Gio and Renée ask each other questions like "who are your heroes", "what is your ideal karaoke song", "what's one thing you would change about yourself" and "what is your favourite book" (a question Renée declined to answer). TW for mentions of suicide, death, and a horse snuff film Gio watched. Can't get enough L2M in your life? Go to patreon.com/listen2mepod to find out how you can keep the show going! See more of our work: Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com. 

Gregg Brown (he/him) joins Gio and Renée to talk about how he brings the lens of organizational psychology, behavioral science, change management, and talent development to individuals and teams looking to harness change and develop leadership skills in their personal and professional lives. From his early days teaching kids to canoe and macramé as a camp counsellor, working in harm reduction, and counselling sex workers, Gregg has always tried to use his "bleeding heart" in the service of meeting people where they are and helping them. Gregg discusses how these days, he's helping people figure out what makes their own brains tick, and coaching them in applying change management principles to create the behaviors and beliefs they want to see in their work and personal lives. Sidebars include the COVID-19 pandemic's long-term fallout and impact, young Gregg's Farrah Fawcett hair, and the universal human desire to be seen. Like the show? Go to patreon.com/listen2mepod to find out how you can support it! See more of our work: Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com.

Author Alison Clarke (she/her) has been creating magical worlds as soon as she could put pen (or brush) to paper. She was awarded 2016 Writer of the Year by Diversity Magazine for The Sisterhood, Book One of her middle grade fantasy trilogy; has been featured in the Edmonton Journal; her latest book, Phillis, was featured on a CBC Book List; and she is the 2021 Writer in Residence for the Alexandra Writers' Centre Society. Alison takes Gio and Renée through her beginnings as a writer; how the themes in her work emerge organically from her interest in diverse mythology, cultures, and the power of the collective; how crucial it is for people of colour to see themselves represented in media; and why it's so important to listen to your own voice when it comes to your creative work. You can find Alison online on Twitter and Instagram, and more of her work at RealmofWyrniverdon.com. Like the show? Check out patreon.com/listen2mepod to learn more about how you can support the show, and connect with Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com.

Whitney McGruder (she/her) always knew she wanted to be an author. 📖 Along with her husband Travis, Whitney offers editing services to upcoming authors and writes her own, with two book published in her The Destiny Seeker series. Her passion for writing and creating content on Instagram for other authors aims to spread the ✨good vibes✨ and information that she's received in the online writing community. Whitney wants to destigmatize self-publishing and chats with Gio and Renée about navigating the goals of being a published author without engaging in traditional publishing, and how creating connections with fellow writers instead of viewing them as 'competition'. Sidebars include The 10th Kingdom fanfiction; the importance of #ownvoices in traditionally published fiction; and Whitney's partnership with bookshop.org. Find Whitney on social media @whit2ney, connect with her at witandtravesty.com, and sign up for her newsletter here! Want more L2M? Go to patreon.com/listen2mepod to find out how you can keep the show going! See more of our work: Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com.

In this episode, Gio and Renée catch each other up about what's been going on, including new purchases (Gio's plant daddy journey continues), and the continual struggle with taking on too👏🏻many👏🏻things👏🏻 (o, the many balls Renée has in the air)! Burnout is real and we're trying not to fizzle out; we're here to remind you that it's okay to just be where you are. Sidebars include himbos (you know what those are, right?), judgements we make about people based on the things they did ten years ago, and the many stickers Renée puts in her day planner. Like the show? Go to patreon.com/listen2mepod to find out how you can support it! See more of our work: Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com.

Do you ever dabble in stitchcraft? ✨Michelle Mabuyo (she/her) was a newbie in the art of embroidery when she got hooked on floss--and now she's running her own Etsy store, stocked with magical hand-stitched items to get you started on your very own textile adventure. Michelle's stitching is cute, colourful, and full of references to pop culture, romance and nerd/programming culture complemented by floral patterns and watercolour painting on cloth. As a programmer and educator, Michelle talks about the engineering solutions-approach to her stitching business, the freedom of exploring what she enjoys creating, and balancing the entrepreneurial and creative mindset. Find Michelle's kits and beautifully completed hoops on Etsy at Magical Stitchcraft and follow her on Instagram @magical.stitchcraft to watch her projects come together. If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting the show on patreon.com/listen2mepod! See more of our work: Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com.

Keisha Kerr (sher/her) is making her mark in the makeup world, one full, feathery lash and glossy lip at a time. Keisha talks to Gio and Renée about how she found her way from law and business school back to her dream of working in the beauty industry. She speaks about defying others' expectations, how she repurposed what she learned outside of makeup artistry for achieving her goals and why beauty has always been her passion. Sidebars include the mother-daughter dynamic, listening to your passion, and putting your authentic self into the brand you're building. Find Keisha's range of beauty products at keishakerrmakeupart.com and follow her @keishakerrmakeupartist on social media. Like this episode and want to keep L2M going? Support the show! Go to patreon.com/listen2mepod to find out more. Find more of Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com.

In this listener-suggested episode, Renée takes Gio into a research rabbit-hole about the surprisingly and insidiously gendered and binary concept of "self-care". TW for discussions of discrimination, racism and gender binary bias in the medical industry and industrial health complex; brief mentions of homophobia, toxic masculinity, death and chronic illness. Gio and Renée share their own experiences with and understanding of self-care, based on their relationship with gender and their upbringings; discuss the difference between integrated, foundational self-care and the commodified version of self-care presented to us in media; the business of marketing self-care and how "self-love" is something that you can achieve as long as you're buying the right products or services; and how to take better care of yourself from a place of love, community and self-compassion. Find more of Gio at giografik.com; Renée at reneewrought.com; and check out the Listen 2 Me Patreon for early episodes and sweet bonuses! ✨

Luke Maddaford (he/him) makes art dedicated to exploring the connection between identity and landscape; queer space and culture outside of major metropolises; placemaking; and queer histories and futures. A multidisciplinary artist (drawing, writing, sculpting), Luke has exhibited throughout Canada and participated in residencies in Fort McMurray, Windsor, Toronto, and Northern Ontario. In this chat with Renée and Gio, Luke talks about his work as an artist, curator, and community organizer; his degrees in "drawing" (Diploma in Visual Art and Design from Keyano College; Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drawing from the Alberta College of Art + Design; Master of Fine Arts degree in Visual Art from the University of Windsor); the inspiration behind organizing Windsor's "Beers for Queers" events; founding LEFT Contemporary, a grassroots studio and exhibition space; and the practice of art in a pandemic. Find more of Luke's work at lukemaddaford.com or follow him on Instagram @lukemaddaford, and keep an eye out for his upcoming project with Undecimals. You can find more Listen 2 Me goodies on our Patreon or follow us on social media @listen2mepod (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook). 

Author and YouTuber F.K. Aldon is a Jill of All Trades: she writes ✍🏾, she reads tarot 🔮, she podcasts 🎙️, she paints nails 💅🏾. Gio and Renée speak with Fadima about her motivation and process for writing her debut, nonfiction book The Single Friend; the ethics of starting her YouTube tarot channel Scorpio Stiletto Tarot; the social commentary that informs her channel Unfiltered & and her podcast Weird Millennials; and her foray into writing articles for vocal.media. Detours include listener feedback (finally!!), Listen 2 Me's new suite of sound effects (thanks, Gio!), and whatever the fuck is up with Geminis ♊. Follow F.K. Aldon on Instagram, subscribe to her YouTube channels and check out Weird Millenials on Spotify, Google or Apple Podcasts. Find more of Gio at giografik.com; Renée at reneewrought.com; and check out the Listen 2 Me Patreon for early episodes and sweet bonuses! ✨

(Part 2 of 2) In this two-part episode, Gio and Renée chat with Dr. Andrea Dinardo (she/her): a psychology professor, published author, TEDx speaker, and retired psychologist making psychology accessible for anybody growing through life's challenges. If you've ever thought of yourself as a "Gio" or a "Renée", this episode is for you. Dr. D takes Gio and Renée through an analysis of their own personalities, along with a wide range of other topics—including her research into toxic positivity; her personal philosophy of "belief optimism"; the importance of boundaries on and offline; the difference between psychology and coaching. Detours—and there are so many detours!—include resilience and grief therapy, The Big Five Personalities, the importance of friendship, the impact of performing vulnerability online and its connection to empathy burnout, and the importance of taking stock of your accomplishments. Find more of Dr. D's work at drandreadinardo.com and get more Listen 2 Me goodness at patreon.com/listen2mepod or on social media @listen2mepod.

(Part 1 of 2) In this two-part episode, Gio and Renée chat with Dr. Andrea Dinardo (she/her): a psychology professor, published author, TEDx speaker, and retired psychologist making psychology accessible for anybody growing through life's challenges. If you've ever thought of yourself as a "Gio" or a "Renée", this episode is for you. Dr. D takes Gio and Renée through an analysis of their own personalities, along with a wide range of other topics—including her research into toxic positivity; her personal philosophy of "belief optimism"; the importance of boundaries on and offline; the difference between psychology and coaching. Detours—and there are so many detours!—include resilience and grief therapy, The Big Five Personalities, the importance of friendship, the impact of performing vulnerability online and its connection to empathy burnout, and the importance of taking stock of your accomplishments. Find more of Dr. D's work at drandreadinardo.com and get more Listen 2 Me goodness at patreon.com/listen2mepod or on social media @listen2mepod.

Jordan Marchand (she/her) took her love of art, opulence, and the macabre and turned it into Buttered Lemonade : artistic collages evoking dark and romantic figures. She might not own a cell phone, but with over 11k followers on Instagram, Jordan knows a bit about what it means to go viral. Jordan joins Gio and Renée to chat about the therapeutic value of making art; finding your way to your own signature style; nurturing your creativity and her own struggles with imposter syndrome. Detours include Guillermo del Toro, Gio's pun game, and not underselling your work. TW for mentions of sexual assault, pedophilia, and trauma disclosure. Looking to add more Listen 2 Me to your life? Patreon.com/listen2mepod has all the bonus content you've been missing. Find us on social media @listen2mepod (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook); Gio at giografik.com and social media @giografik and Renée at reneewrought.com and on all social media @reneewrought.

We find moments of joy where we can, but overall, it's been a rocky road from the start of 2020 to here. Gio and Renée check in with each other in this episode about the things that have been bringing them joy, what they're grateful for, and what they've found difficult in the last 12 months. Topics include why it really is okay to take a break, or just do what you can instead of all the things; how emotional support trash TV shows and social media apps can be both helpful and detrimental; and a reminder to treat ourselves with compassion and patience. 🚧 Detours include Gio's Nonno's change purse, why we unfollow people online, and Renée's current read: The Art of Showing Up by Rachel Wilkerson Miller. You can check out L2M on Patreon at patreon.com/listen2mepod and find us on social media @listen2mepod (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook). Check out Gio's work at giografik.com and social media @giografik and Renée at reneewrought.com and on all social media @reneewrought.

Emily Campbell (she/her) is a writer, a poet, the founder of The New Cambrians book club/writing group, and has published with The Bolo Tie Collective, The Anti-Languorous Project and the inaugural issue of Lida Literary Mag. Joining Gio and Renée, Emily talks about the evolution of her writing; decoupling her writing career from "making it" as a Big Name Author and making it fun to write again; gatekeeping in the writing and publishing community; the gratifying experience of creating a writing community of her own and so much more.  🚧 Detours include erotic fanfiction, being pigeon-holed as "the art kid" in grade school, and the burnout inherent in hustle culture. You can check out L2M on Patreon at patreon.com/listen2mepod and find us on social media @listen2mepod (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook). Find more of Gio's work at giografik.com and social media @giografik and Renée at reneewrought.com and on all social media @reneewrought.

Adi Berardini (she/her) is on a mission to bring more femme and queer art to the hearts, minds and eyes of every internet user with her online publication, Femme Art Review. Gio and Renée have the pleasure of speaking to Adi about how FAR evolved from a blog she started in undergrad to the accessible online publication it is today. Adi speaks about her start as an artist, Femme Art Review's first print issue, the importance of visibility and representation in the queer art community, and FAR's previous and upcoming artist features.  Detours include underselling yourself, Drag Race, and that good ole' gay agenda. Find more of Adi's work at adiberardini.com and follow Listen 2 Me Podcast on social media @listen2mepod. You can help support the show by visiting our Patreon--our tiers start at $1! Go to patreon.com/listen2mepod to learn more.

What is it like to love a creative? Let us tell you! 💝 Renée and Gio discuss their experiences as the creative partners in their relationships, and what kind of things you can expect when you partner with another creative. This is a fluffy episode full of personal anecdotes and commiseration, including how to soundboard with someone who understands nothing about your chosen creative craft, how to manage conflicting schedules, and different ways creativity impact your understanding and insights into the world and human experience. 💌 Detours include love languages, former academic high-achievers' praise kink, Gio and Renée's conflict styles, and a callback to Episode 10: The Intersection of Queer and Creative! You can check out L2M on Patreon at patreon.com/listen2mepod and find us on social media @listen2mepod (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook). Find more of Gio's work at giografik.com and social media @giografik and Renée at reneewrought.com and on all social media @reneewrought.

Gio and Renée revisit the importance of checking in with our inner child, and how it helps get us unstuck in our creative process. We offer practical tips for remembering what you were into as a kid, talk about why shame becomes a barrier to connecting with our inner child, and why loving things unironically and making things for fun instead of side-hustling is so important. Detours in this episode include 90s fashion, the film Venom (2018) starring Tom Hardy and its relation to monsterfuckers, Renée's history of bad haircuts, and why receiving socks and cooking appliances as gifts in your 30s is the best. We love making this show and your support means so much to us! You can check out L2M on Patreon at patreon.com/listen2mepod and find us on social media @listen2mepod (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook). Find more of Gio's work at giografik.com and social media @giografik and Renée at reneewrought.com and on all social media @reneewrought.

Do you ever put things off to the last minute? Find yourself struggling with time management? Grappling with indecision? We're right there with you. Gio and Renée discuss their own personal experiences with procrastination, why procrastination is so pervasive and what it actually is (did you know that it's a learned behaviour?), and our top tips for the long- and short-term solutions you can use to bust those procrastinating tendencies. Detours in this episode include the evolution from MySpace to Twitter and Italian greyhound fashion.  You can support L2M on Patreon at patreon.com/listen2mepod and find us on social media @listen2mepod (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook). Find more of Gio's work at giografik.com and social media @giografik and Renée at reneewrought.com and on all social media @reneewrought.

Joining Renée and Gio for their first episode of the year is beauty marketing maverick Laura Woolner (she/her) , creator of the viral beauty ad "Bad Beauty Lighting".  Laura talks about how her plans to study fashion design didn't exactly pan out, why taking whatever work you can get when you're starting out can pay dividends in the long run, and why being a Jane of All Trades keeps her creative. Detours in this episode include sex work (legalize it!) and Renée's Social Justice Soapbox finally has its own sound effect (thanks, Gio)! Want to support the show? Check us out on Patreon at patreon.com/listen2mepod and find L2M on social media @listen2mepod (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook). Find more of Gio's work at giografik.com and social media @giografik and Renée at reneewrought.com and on all social media @reneewrought.

Gio and Renée close out the year with a retrospective of the small moments of joy, how rough it's been on many fronts, and what we're doing to take care of ourselves during our moments of fatigue. Grab a cup of something warm and cuddle up for a cozy listen. Bonus topics include Gio as a one-man Snatch Game panel, Renée reading her [redacted], and a shout-out to all our listeners for just making it through the year. Find out more about how you can support the show on Patreon at patreon.com/listen2mepod and find L2M on social media @listen2mepod (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook). Find more of Gio's work at giografik.com and social media @giografik and Renée at reneewrought.com and social media @reneewrought.

Follow & Support Listen 2 Me: Patreon | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook • Find Gio at giografik.com and @giografik • Find Renée at reneewrought.com and @reneewrought Instagram | Twitter | Facebook 

Writers assemble! Liselle Sambury (she/her) is a young adult author writing stories about "messy Black girls in fantasy situations" and is dropping her debut book, Blood Like Magic, in June 2021. She joins Renée and Gio to talk about how she got started in writing, how she established herself on AuthorTube, and how she got her very first book deal. This episode also includes Liselle's tips on writing craft and busting through writer's block; favourite tropes in YA novels; and her process for bringing Blood Like Magic from draft to published manuscript.  Find more of Liselle's work at lisellesambury.ca and follow her on social media @lisellesambury.

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Dan Snow (he/him) never considered himself a "creative", but his vision and drive are what brought SNOW Collective, a consortium of entrepreneurial professionals from vision to reality.  Dan joins Gio and Renée to discuss the real burnout of working for large corporations, why authenticity is so valuable in work as well as life, and how his involvement with the CGLCC, Canada's LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, changed his life and his business. Other topics include the perils of crying in your car at work, keeping busy during COVID, the advantages and disadvantages of working from home and the difference between performing "professional" and being accountable for the work you do. Get more updates from the SNOW Collective Blog and find Dan Snow on LinkedIn.

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Get ready to level up! Have you ever wondered what it takes to write your own video game? Let Davis G. See (he/him) tell you, as he walks Gio and Renée through the path that led him to freelance writing, creating interactive fiction, and becoming one of Edmonton Public Library's featured writers. Topics include how to build your client base as a freelancer, gay poetry binders, why queer representation in everything is important, and what to do when writer's block gets you down. CW: Mention of cock (not the animal), erotic Kingdom Hearts fan fiction, and Davis' game Post-Apocalyptic Gay Sex Simulator v0.1. You can find Davis' games at davisgsee.itch.io, more of his writing on Patreon @davisgsee and follow him on Twitter @davisgsee for updates! 

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Andres Garzon (he/him), visual artist and creative, brings Gio and Renée on an exploration of the universe he's creating through his paintings and drawings. With insight and intention, Andres digs into some big topics like immigration, cultural assimilation, political art and identity politics, all taken through the lens of his work as an artist. Other topics include the value of escapism and representation in art, the struggle of artist's block, and the importance of protecting those members of our community who are marginalized. You can find more of Andres' work on his website, andresgarzon.ca, or on social media @studioandresgarzon.

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Have you been waiting for an opportunity to help Gio and Renée make L2M even better? Here's your chance! In this super-mini-informercial-sode, Gio and Renée explain what Patreon is while asking you indelicately for your financial support. We explain each of the tiers and what they entail. You can go to patreon.com/listen2mepod to find out more. What are you waiting for? Subscribe today! 

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Your niche, your groove, your calling—whatever you want to label it, it's out there: trust us. You can find what you're good at, and Listen 2 Me is here to help. Gio and Renée are coming in hot with their best, most accessible tips for finding out what you're good at, establishing a daily practice so you can use to it recognize a pattern, taking a cue from the greats who have come before you in your chosen creative field, and how to keep pushing when your inner saboteur inevitably strikes. There are many sidebars in this episode, and we cherish every one. Let us know if there's a topic we haven't covered yet that you've been waiting for: email us at listen2mepod@gmail.com or DM us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @listen2mepod. When you listen and subscribe and RATE our episodes, we find ourselves smiling and we don't know why. 🤗 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

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Salem Berhane (she/her) opened a natural hair and beauty service salon in the middle of a flippin' pandemic, and shows no signs of slowing down, in business or in creativity. Gio and Renée had a great time chatting with Salem who share her wisdom from starting a braiding business at home to opening IncluSV Beauty Solutions as a storefront; why hair is so important in Black community and culture; a future in which Black-owned businesses are leading the hair industry; and why calling cornrows "Kardashian boxer braids" is absolutely wrong. You can email info@inclusvbeauty.com for more information about Salem or to request an appointment if you live in Windsor, ON, and follow @inclusvbeauty on Instagram and Facebook to see more of Salem's work! 

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Join us for a conversation with Christopher Pressey (he/him): the man, the myth, the legend. From starting out as a small fish in the graphic design industry in Detroit, MI to starting his own design agency, Christopher Pressey Design, and becoming the current president of the Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator, Chris has plenty of insights to share about leaving a clear-cut career path to build his own business. Topics include listening to your instincts, what it means to start a business in a smaller community, working through anxiety and the power in naming the voice in your head that calls you an imposter. Connect with Chris on Twitter @xtopherpressey, Instagram @xtopherpressey75, Facebook @presseydesign. Let us know what you think of this episode! Rate and subscribe to Listen 2 Me Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts, and connect with us @listen2mepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook or email us at listen2mepodcast@gmail.com.

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