Seen

What do you keep hidden? What secrets, desires or parts of yourself would you prefer to tuck away into the crevices of shame? In this episode, Nic and Lala tap into their vulnerability and speak on the areas of their life that, when brought into the light, can be examined, understood and transformed.  Song of the week: Don't Judge Me by Janelle Monáe

Whether we care to admit it or not, most of us resonate with a deep desire to be loved, accepted and cherished. But in practice, much can get in the way of receiving the love we so deserve. In this episode, Nic and Lala explore what it means to be loved in all ways, and from all directions. Song of the week: Ex-Factor by Lauryn Hill

What do we risk when we enter conflicts in our friendships? And what do we risk when we avoid them? In this episode, Nic and Lala explore fear and vulnerability by discussing trust, conflict, and hurt in their own friendship. Song of the week: Best Friend by Pharrell

Personal healing and collective liberation work is taxing, and in the midst of this labour, our ability to take a break and feel some respite can become a luxury. So what can we use to keep us afloat? In this episode, Nic and Lala talk about what cultivating sacred presence, striking balance, and showing up in our own lives—for ourselves—can afford us. Song of the week: Just Fine by Mary J. Blige

As the world celebrates Pride month, Nic and Lala trace the evolution of Pride from a radical liberation movement to what often feels like a depoliticized corporate party, and call for Two-Spirit, queer and trans BIPOC to regain our rightful place as leaders of Pride movements. Song of the week: Crazy Classic Life by Janelle Monae

In this episode, Nic and Lala reflect and mourn the ongoing genocide of Indigenous peoples, grieving the enormous loss of life following the recovery of 215 childrens’ bodies in Kamloops, and offer actionable ways that all settlers can work towards accountability for our complicity. Song of the week: Where Do We Go From Here by Solange

If all our faves are problematic, can they still be our faves? In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss the ethics of loving problematic art, humanizing artists, and the responsibilities of the audience. Song of the week: Moment of Clarity by Jay-Z

Our impact on the world around us can often feel intangible. While we know our lives are more than our labour or careers, the notion of legacy often gets boiled down to fame, popularity or being “known” for something--but what else is possible? In this episode, Nic and Lala offer their ideas on relationships and values as forms of legacy, and how the small ripples of our actions can cause massive...

When occupying positions of authority, women and non-binary folks of colour are often said to experience imposter syndrome. But when our qualifications, skills, and expertise are constantly questioned, is it really that simple? In this episode, Lala and Nic use an anti-oppressive framework to discuss the contradictions of claiming authority and ceding power when we have so little to begin with. So...

In this episode, Nic shares some of her initial learnings on transformative justice, what it offers our movements, and how it has begun to resonate, challenge, and spark new reflections on addressing harm, achieving accountability, and holding onto our humanity. Song of the week: Oh Maker by Janelle Monáe

What does it look like, sound like, feel like to see the world through the eyes of your oppressors? When you see even yourself through their eyes? in this episode, Nic and Lala discuss what it means to look across rather than “up”, how internalized misogyny leaves us lonely, and more. Song of the week: Ideal Woman by Celeste 

Friendship is a gift, offering us real opportunities to practice love, care, and accountability. But often, real friends are hard to come by, our ideas about friendship may not match reality. Seasons change, and so do we. In this episode, Nic and Lala celebrate the joy and power of one of the most sacred forms of relationship. Song of the week: Best Friend by Saweetie ft. Doja Cat

If guilt lets us know when we’ve done something wrong, why is it often referred to as a wasted emotion? Does guilt immobilize us or move us to take action? In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss the contradictions of guilt, the ways it intersects with ego and with ableism, and how to move from guilt to responsibility. Song of the week: Same Ol' Mistakes by Rihanna

Birthdays, holidays, anniversaries. While we may feel pressured to create picture-perfect celebrations for these supposedly sunny days, many of us find ourselves triggered, wrapped in grief, and wanting to hide. In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss trauma coinciding with celebration, and how to take care of ourselves on these complex occasions. Song of the week: Overwhelmed by Chloe x Halle

Do you know what your intuition looks, sounds, tastes, feels like? In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss healing our intuition as BIPOC in a white supremacist society, distinguishing between intuition and anxiety, and the blessings of learning to listen and connect. Song of the week: Nature by India. Arie.

In this episode, Nic and Lala process the recent white supremacist violence in the US Capitol, discussing how these same forces manifest in what is currently known as Canada, why Canadians are so eager to ignore the problems at home, and the energy shift BIPOC are experiencing in this moment. Song of the week: Earth Is Ghetto by Aliah Sheffield

We live in a society where separation, disconnection, and harm are the norm. This is a trauma culture that supports ongoing colonialism and genocide. In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss intergenerational trauma, cultural shadow work, and our collective responsibility to heal. Song of the week: The Sharecropper’s Daughter by Sa-Roc.

As adults, our relationships with parents might be edifying and supportive, but for others, painful remnants from the past can carry forward, weighing us down. In this episode, Nic shares what it’s meant to build empathy for her father as she heads into a new phase of life. Song of the week: Saturn by NAO

The most intimate relationship of our lives is the one we have with ourselves. But it is also the most complicated, and at times, the most painful. In this episode, Nic and Lala dig into the roots of self-hatred and trace paths toward healing. Song of the week: u by Kendrick Lamar

Most of us come to justice work with a deep sense of care and love for others. But often, inadequacy and the belief we’re not doing enough eclipses our ability to have compassion for ourselves - or each other. In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss the challenges of navigating vulnerability, performative allyship and shame. Song of the week: Pretty Hurts by Beyonce

Rest is one of our most basic needs, so why do we find ourselves resisting and outrunning it? And in doing so, how are we harming the sick and disabled folks among us? In this episode, Nic and Lala slow down and discuss balance, quieting the noise around us, and rest as a foundational part of healing and liberation work. Song of the week: Beautiful by India. Arie

Collective liberation requires all hands on deck, so what role do you play as you show up to do the work? How can we challenge hierarchies of power that lie even within our “safer” havens of care? In this episode, Nic and Lala lean on the teachings of Mariame Kaba who teaches us that everything worthwhile is done with other people. Song of the week: My Power by CHIKA

With all the ways we are harmed by dominant groups in society, we often expect the communities we build with other marginalized folks to be safe havens. So what happens when they’re not? In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss power and entitlement, examining our own complicity, and what it would take to build safer communities. Song of the week: Cold War by Janelle Monáe. 

What would be possible if the men who don’t actively commit violence showed up to support survivors and oppose violence with everything they've got? In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss surviving the indifference of our communities, the layers of harm and betrayal caused by toxic masculinity, and why supporting men necessitates holding them accountable. Song of the week: Love Drought by Beyonce. 

Black women show up for everyone, but who shows up for them? Who benefits from maintaining Black women’s oppression? And what do calls to #protectblackwomen mean in a world that gleefully maligns their pain and silences their voices? In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss patriarchy, Black women’s power, and the importance of knowing our history. Song of the week: Baby Girl by Chloe x Halle.