The Queer Ritual Podcast

With the growth of Looksmaxxing content online, and the recent implosion of Looksmaxxing influencer Clavicular; I wanted to take this opportunity to speak on the wider ramifications of how this content harms young men (and where it might actually be helpful). Drawing on my experience working in the beauty industry for over a decade, and seeing the rise and fall of beauty trends for men. This episo...

Content warning: mental illness, stalking, child abuse, homophobia In this episode, I speak on my childhood experiences growing up with a mom who was diagnosed with Delusional Disorder. I am primarily sharing my experiences to help and offer support for those who have had similar experiences with mentally ill caregivers. This episode is not meant to diagnose, demonize, or stigmatize any psychiatri...

With recent news of war and other violence, it can be difficult to maintain one's equilibrium. In this episode, I offer a spiritual perspective on how to maintain your own peace when violence around the world is escalating. I delve into the concepts of radical acceptance, karma yoga, and selfless giving (dana). This episode could be heavy for some listeners. I avoid going into too much detail, but...

This episode is 17+ only! Happy Lunar New Year to those who celebrate! This episode is a bit of a departure from my usual content. I'll be discussing Heated Rivalry, where it can be problematic, and how this gay Eurasian podcaster from a hockey family who even dated a Slavic European in Boston in 2010 is...not the target audience demographic? I talk about the fujoshi phenomenon (women who read gay...

Here I share my recent experience at the Buddhist Walk for Peace rally in Caroline County, Virginia. I try to summarize the Venerable Bhikkhu Paññakāra's Dharma talk and a potentially upsetting incident that happened at the rally. (Content warning for religious trauma and most likely mental illness. Listener discretion advised.) I do my best to answer any possible questions about this Buddhist pil...

After a recent viral video, I decided to delve into why more people have been policing public bathrooms. Listener discretion advised that this episode contains foul language and hateful speech (not from myself!). I approach this from a spiritual perspective, trying to dig deeper into where this particular type of hate originates. Check out my episode of Healing Out Lao'd with Rita Phetmixay! Apple...

(If the video edition isn't available on your preferred podcast service, it can be viewed on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/ASquQSISGI4?si=KgROAsARs6fCXqif ) Happy New Year! In this special video edition of the podcast, I am pulling cards from Vicki Iskandar's The Chinese Five Elements Oracle deck. I explain how this deck works and how I use it in my readings. I pull cards for: the state of this p...

This one might ruffle a few feathers. What is spiritual whitewashing? How has it affected various Asian spiritual practices, including Reiki? I delve into the three Masters from most modern Reiki practitioners' lineage charts (Usui Mikao, Hayashi Chujiro, and Ms Hawayo Takata), along with how they each practiced/taught differently. How much of the original Japanese practices still survive in the w...

After rewatching Avatar: Way of Water in preparation for the new film Avatar: Fire and Ash, I decided to revisit the spiritual aspects of this second Avatar film. Listen to this episode to understand the Avatar films from a Buddhist and Hindu perspective. I go into the Buddhist concepts of karma and bodhisattvas and how they apply to the film, as well as how the dynamics of the Sully family fit wi...

We've got a special treat today! This is my first guest interview on the podcast. I speak with Maggie Johns, owner of Tacit Touch Somatic Therapy. We talk about the Transformative Touch method of somatic therapy as a healing modality, the mind body connection (from Western and Eastern/Reiki/Ayurvedic perspectives), and Maggie's experiences with learning to let go of shame resulting from her Southe...

In this episode: I go over the Five Reiki Precepts (Gokai), a brief explanation of what Reiki is, the different branches of Japanese spirituality that influenced Reiki, and related modern practices within Japan that share heritage with Reiki. These are topics I discuss in more detail during my Reiki Level 1 trainings, so consider this just a taste of all that Reiki has to offer! • Animism, Shinto,...

In this episode, I delve into how emotions affect the health of your body, both from a Western medical perspective and an Eastern spiritual perspective IG/Tt: rikidementia Facebook: Plumeria Beauty+Wellness Online bookings: https://plumeriabewell.as.me Email: tqrpodcast@gmail.com Interview request form: https://docs.google.com/forms/... As always, may you be happy, healthy, and well 🙏

(Fixed a glitch in the previous version!) Bonus Halloween episode! From The Lost Boys to Buffy and True Blood, vampire stories have loved to play with gay and lesbian themes. Why is that? And why do so many gays and lesbians love vampire stories?

This episode is part 2 of the ongoing series of the spiritual wounds of LGBTQ people. In this segment, I focus on how the coming out process can fracture the spirit and lead to fragmentation of self. We can disown parts of ourselves, using language like "same sex attraction" instead of "my sexuality" or "my gender identity." Some of the deep wounds from living in the closet can cause lasting feeli...

What is spiritual wounding, and how does this pertain to LGBTQ people? In this episode, I delve into common spiritual wounds people in the community face. This is a long winded topic, so there will be multiple episodes in this series! (This upload was a discarded take from the prior upload. I hadn't realized the previous audio file failed to upload correctly!) Where to reach me: IG/Tt: @rikidement...

Happy Spooky Season!! 👻  In this episode, I tell two true spooky stories from my own life. In the first story, I recall the haunting in my childhood apartment in Fort Worth, TX. In the second story, an odd detail from a past life regression session that became a crazy coincidence months later. If you are interested in being a future guest on this show, send me an email at tqrpodcast@gmail.com . I...

I'm back! As I return for the long overdue Season 2 of The Queer Ritual Podcast, here are some updates on the state of this podcast and the new direction I will be taking it. The TL;DR I've started my own business! Plumeria Beauty+Wellness in Spotsylvania, VA. Find me on IG @Plumeria. Beauty. Wellness or Facebook listed as "Plumeria Beauty+Wellness" I am available for Reiki and spiritual coaching...

I'm sure many of us in the LGBTQ community have been asked this one. Why is there no STRAIGHT Pride? I will always answer that pride is a response to shame. So people who have been taught to be ashamed of who they are inside (whether that is sexual orientation, gender identity, etc) are who the Pride movement is for. That isn't to say that people who are in the white Christian majority cannot be p...

Happy Pride Month! In this episode, I reflect on my experiences of being "different" growing up as queer and neurodivergent (ADHD-PI), including how that difference affected me even after coming out. I conclude the episode with how I have used that difference to foster a new sense of community. I didn't have an outline for this episode, so I know my thoughts wander quite a bit with this one. I app...

Happy Pride Month! I know the rhetoric has gotten very negative this year for Pride, so today I want to counterbalance the negative with the positive. This episode contains my top 5 perks of being in a same-sex relationship. Rick and I have been together almost twelve years now, and this month will also be our 5 year wedding anniversary! New episodes post Monday and Friday! Listener questions and...

Due to her recent passing, I want to take some time to honor the musical AND spiritual icon, Tina Turner. I explain her encounters with both Christianity and Buddhism, her personal chanting practice (Nam myoho renge kyo), and her efforts to promote peace and unity among all the world's religions. Mentioned in this episode: Beyond (2009) Available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Children Beyon...

Continuing the theme of healing for Asian Diaspora content during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, today's episode is on the dark side of filial piety. What is filial piety? Where does the concept come from? Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing? All will be discussed in this episode. I am so proud of my fellow second generation Asian Americans who have decided to speak up on issues of menta...

Continuing my Asian Pacific American Heritage Month content, today I'm talking about microaggressions. What are they? Why do they hurt? How do we heal from them? This episode also introduces the concept of radical acceptance. New episodes post Monday and Friday! Listener questions and business inquiries: tqrpodcast@gmail.com Personal IG: www.instagram.com/rikidementia Thank you for listening!

Continuing with the theme of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APIA Heritage Month), I am reposting a previous episode on Asian American Impostor Syndrome. Enjoy! New episodes post Monday and Friday! Listener questions and business inquiries: tqrpodcast@gmail.com Personal IG: www.instagram.com/rikidementia Thank you for listening!