Shows
Listen 2 MeE74 · Lee Kvern : Write Your RedemptionLee 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...2021-09-221h 03
Listen 2 MeE73 · Daven Seebarran : Diversifying DragDaven 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...2021-09-151h 04
Listen 2 MeE72 · Adaptation in the Impoverished City 🏙️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 t...2021-09-081h 00Listen 2 MeE71 · WIP VII: Mental Health & CreativityIn this light-hearted, chatty episode, Renée and Gio catch up on each other's creative efforts, recent dietary choices, and their mental health as uncertainty about the world's safety and health persists. Renée asks the timely question: "What is wrong with coasting?" and Gio explores what working to his potential has meant for his mental health for the past few decades, and why creative work can be so challenging when it all depends on self-motivating. 🚧 Detours include RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (Season 6 spoilers!), Gio's love of disco mixes, empathy burnout, internal family system therapy and how, if you t...2021-09-0140 minListen 2 MeE70 · Social Media for Content Creators (Part 1) 📱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 DM...2021-08-2545 min
Listen 2 MeE69 · Andrea Beça : Solidarity Film Camp 🎥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 R...2021-08-181h 08
Listen 2 MeE68 · Ellen Kartz : The Thrill of the Word 📜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 t...2021-08-111h 05
Listen 2 MeE67 · Lannie Johnston : Get (Pr)into ItLannie 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...2021-08-041h 03
Listen 2 MeE66 · Lisa Murphy-Lamb : Connecting CreativesLisa 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, b...2021-07-281h 11
Listen 2 MeE65 · Haui, aka Howard J. Davis : Mixed↑ (Part 1)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 availab...2021-07-2157 minListen 2 MeE64 · The Joy of Missing Out ✨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 r...2021-07-1453 min
Listen 2 MeE63 · Dustin Archibald : Drifting Toward StoryDustin 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 c...2021-07-0757 min
Listen 2 MeE62 · Chantelle Quow : Building Business FoundationsChantelle 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...2021-06-3054 min
Listen 2 MeE61 · Brian R. Williams : The Story In ArtBrian 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 a...2021-06-231h 05Listen 2 MeE60 · WIP VI : "You Wanna F*ck With Mommy?"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...2021-06-1647 min
Listen 2 MeE59 · Stacey Gonder : House of Sass & MagicStacey 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...2021-06-0959 min
Listen 2 MeE58 · Sarah Feinstein : Superfein DesignSarah 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 (e...2021-06-0258 minListen 2 MeE57 · Get to Know Us! 🌈25 QuestionsHave 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...2021-05-2631 min
Listen 2 MeE56 · Gregg Brown : Meet People Where They AreGregg 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 ma...2021-05-191h 06
Listen 2 MeE55 · AC Clarke : The Realm of WyrniverdonAuthor 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, c...2021-05-121h 00
Listen 2 MeE54 · Whitney McGruder : Wit & TravestyWhitney 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...2021-05-051h 05Listen 2 MeE53 · WIP V : Nothing Grows All Year Long 🌱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...2021-04-2832 min
Listen 2 MeE52 · Michelle Mabuyo : Magical StitchcraftDo 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, patterns, and kits 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 ba...2021-04-2157 min
Listen 2 MeE51 · Keisha Kerr Beauty : Lips & Lashes 💄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 r...2021-04-1455 minListen 2 MeE50 · Beyond the Self-Care BinaryIn 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...2021-04-0755 minListen 2 MeE49 · Luke Maddaford : The 'Here' In QueerLuke 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; M...2021-03-3159 min
Listen 2 MeE48 · Steve Broome : Utterly A-gore-able 🧟💖Gio and Renée have a chat with the lovely Steve Broome (he/him), multi-medium artist, drag queen, burlesque performer and journeyman welder, about his spite-fueled journey toward self-expression and his Lisa Frank-inspired, "a-gore-able" art style, the dangers of indiscriminate censorship and making art on the side while working full time. 👠 Steve gives his best tips on how to access those things that make you unique and channel it into your art, talks about the intentional performance of sexuality and gender as Séancé Ghouls, and the homoeroticism of painting penises on sawblades. Detours include monsterf*cking, looking intimidating when y...2021-03-241h 01
Listen 2 MeE47 · F.K. Aldon : Question the Status QuoAuthor 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 I...2021-03-171h 09
Listen 2 MeE46 · Listen 2 Dr. D with Dr. Andrea Dinardo (Pt 2 of 2)(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 c...2021-03-1028 min
Listen 2 MeE45 · Listen 2 Dr. D with Dr. Andrea Dinardo (Pt 1 of 2)(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 c...2021-03-031h 06
Listen 2 MeE44 · Jordan Marchand : Buttered Lemonade 🍋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 m...2021-02-241h 02Listen 2 MeE43 · WIP IV : The Re-WindWe 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 w...2021-02-1738 min
Listen 2 MeE42 · Emily Campbell : Write For Writing's Sake 🖋️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 "...2021-02-101h 01
Listen 2 MeE41 · Adi Berardini : Femme Art For YouAdi 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, D...2021-02-0352 minListen 2 MeE40 · How To Love a Creative 💖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...2021-01-2759 minListen 2 MeE39 · Reconnect With Your Childhood Creative 🎨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 gi...2021-01-2052 minListen 2 MeE38 · Procrastination NationDo 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 a...2021-01-1352 min
Listen 2 MeE37 · Laura Woolner : Bad-Ass Beauty BossJoining 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 th...2021-01-0659 minListen 2 MeE36 · WIP II : Grieving 2020 (Smiling Face with Tear Emoji)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 L2...2020-12-3043 minListen 2 MeE35 · ✂️Cut the ComparisonsGio and Renée are back to talk about Imposter Syndrome's unpleasant and downright douchey cousin, Comparisons. Do you ever measure your success based on other people's? We're here to help you break that habit and figure out how to set goals that are meaningful to you and not just something you do in order to get it on your social media highlight reel. Topics include the pitfalls of toxic positivity, taking the time to acknowledge your successes, and how to combat backsliding.
Follow & Support Listen 2 Me: Patreon | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook • Find Gio at giografik.com and...2020-12-2347 min
Listen 2 MeE34 · Liselle Sambury : YA Author MagicWriters 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 a...2020-12-161h 07
Listen 2 MeE33 · Quinton Cruickshanks : Shoot Your Shot📸Photographer to models, designers, and the stars of drag, Quinton Cruickshanks (he/him) joins Gio and Renée to talk shop— and don't just mean Photoshop [🥁 rimshot noise]. We talk about Quinton's beginnings as a fashion photographer, the impact of the queer community on his photography, and how he's managed to keep his business afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bonus topics include Drag Race Canada queens, Harry Styles covering Vogue in tulle, and Quinton's alter-ego Elle O'Elle. 💃🏻 You can find more of Quinton's work at quintonphoto.com of follow him for more visual delights on Instagram @_qweenton and @itselleoelle! P...2020-12-091h 02
Listen 2 MeE32 · Dan Snow : Making Your Own WayDan 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 t...2020-12-0200 min
Listen 2 MeE31 · Davis G. See : Interactive FictionGet 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' g...2020-11-2500 min
Listen 2 MeE30 · Andres Garzon : Living the Queer UtopiaAndres 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 s...2020-11-1800 minListen 2 MeE29 · Patreon, Baby!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! 2020-11-1100 minListen 2 MeE28 · Figuring Out What You're Good AtYour 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...2020-11-0400 minListen 2 MeE27 · The Haunting of Listen 2 MeAs Rod Templeton wrote, darkness falls across the land and the Midnight Hour 🕯️ is close at hand [insert werewolf howl here]! Gio and Renée get downright frightening in this special 🎃 Halloween 🎃 episode, where they share some of their favourite spooky shows for getting in the Halloween season, reminisce about past Halloween costumes, and recall haunting personal experiences involving unexplained encounters bordering on the paranormal. 👻 Bonus topics include satanic cults, theremins, Tarot reading, 🔮 Ouija boards and, of course, Bigfoot. TW: for mentions of death and grief ⚰️, gory horror movies, and the Golden State Killer's crimes (sexual assault, murder, stalking). Please subscribe and r...2020-10-2800 minListen 2 MeE26 · Salem Berhane : IncluSV SolutionsSalem 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 m...2020-10-2100 minListen 2 MeE25 · Chris Pressey : Big Fish, Small PondJoin 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...2020-10-1400 minListen 2 MeE24 · Find Your Clique, C'est ChicFriends who create together, stay together. Join your old pals Gio and Renée as they join hands and talk about what makes the right people so important to feeding your creative spirit. Topics include discerning between helpful critique and destructive criticism, networking in person and online, trusting your gut when it comes to meeting new people, and two elder millennials struggling to parse the term "vibe check". Wherever you listen, please subscribe! It means so much to us. Every subscription and rating helps more than you know, and we read each one! If you're on social media, follow u...2020-10-0700 minListen 2 MeE23 · Get Yourself in the Motivational MoodInfo Goes Here2020-09-301h 02Listen 2 MeE22 · Casey Fox - The Outlandish EroticToday's episode is all about SEX, as Casey Fox, adult paranormal romance author, takes Renée and Gio on a wild ride through the mechanics of writing and self-publishing sexy, steamy adult books. This (interview) threesome gets graphic, so if there are small children within ear-shot or you are sensitive to these topics, please do not listen! TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNINGS: sexual content, dubious consent, assault and explicit discussion of female bodies and penetrative intercourse. We talk about the importance of authentic representation of the spectrum of human sexual experience in writing, the important of foreplay, building our daily writing h...2020-09-2353 minListen 2 MeE21 · Investing In Your WorkIt's just Gio—and Renée—for this week's episode on investing in yourself, something many creatives struggle with. How do you show up for your own art? Do you value your output as an artist, or are you waiting for someone else to validate it? Are you already making the work you want to see yourself compensated for? Are you finishing projects, even if no one's waiting for you to? Are you waiting for someone to 'discover' you or for your work to go viral? If you've ever asked yourself these questions, we made this episode for you! Tange...2020-09-161h 06Listen 2 MeE20 · Michael Hoppe : Geopogo & The Future of ARGio and Renée are joined by Michael Hoppe: traveler, innovator, and Creative Director of Geopogo, an app for designing 3D models of buildings using augmented reality tech. Michael shares what moving from BC to Ontario to Greece to San Francisco has taught him; his vision for the future of virtual reality; and fusing art with technology to make it more accessible. Tangents include Renée's long-term use of Tumblr, making things up as you go along, and the history of cell phones. Subscribe and rate Listen 2 Me wherever you listen--we are growing our listener-ship because of you! If...2020-09-091h 09Listen 2 MeE19 · Middle-Grade Author Jessica RenwickHow magical! This week Renée and Gio sit down with the kind and talented Jessica Renwick, award-winning author of the fantasy middle-grade Starfell series. The first two books, The Book of Chaos and The Guitar of Mayhem, are out now. Her short story “The Witch’s Staff” will appear in the forthcoming anthology book Magical Girls from Celticpress Publishing. We talk writing characters we can see ourselves in, the adventures of self-publishing, and the importance of writing with diversity. Bonus topics include branching into editing, how to harness ideas and turn them into something substantial, and Gio's horse girl hi...2020-09-0254 minListen 2 MeE18 · WIP : Vessels of Content & InformationListen 2 Me Podcast presents "Work In Progress", a series of check-in episodes where Renée and Gio get into the au courant details of their lives and what's taking up their time. Bonus topics include the imaginary L2M merch line, Dolly Parton, and doing your own thing with conviction. We appreciate all your support and each review and subscription is huge for us! So if you like what you hear, rate, review and subscribe, tweet us @listen2mepod, check us out on Instagram @listen2mepodcast, follow us on Facebook or email us at listen2mepodcast@gmail.com.2020-08-2657 minListen 2 MeE17 · Toxicity In The Creative SphereThis one’s a doozy! Our first listener-suggested episode topic is toxicity in the creative sphere. Join Gio and Renee as they hash out their own experiences with toxic people in their respective fields, talk about oppressive structures, and discuss ways to make creative spaces better for everyone by cultivating a mindset of growth and compassion. Bonus topics include capitalism, the return of Renee's soapbox, and of course, Britney Spears’ seminal 2003 pop hit. If you like this episode or have something nice to say, please subscribe, rate and comment on Listen 2 Me wherever fine podcasts are streamed!2020-08-1951 minListen 2 MeE16 · Patrick HunterWhat an incredible treat! Patrick Hunter, Two-Spirit Ojibwe Woodland visual artist, joins Gio and Renee for this episode to talk about developing your artistic style, finding your niche, indigenizing public spaces and seizing business opportunities in quarantine. Bonus topics include being a business owner with many hats, late 90s internet ads and Grindr. Find more of Patrick’s work at patrickhunter.ca, and rate and review Listen 2 Me wherever you listen to podcasts. Every subscription, comment, rating and follow helps! If you’re on the socials, tweet us @listen2mepod, DM us on Instagram @listen2mepodcast, message us on Face...2020-08-1248 minListen 2 MeE15 · Self-Care for CreativesJoin us as we revisit self-care, a topic we touched on in Episode 11: Burnout. Gio and Renee take you through the steps to sustainable self-care--we’re moving beyond the shallow, trendy version. We talk about the importance of integrating self-care into your productivity, setting boundaries with yourself, committing to prioritizing your sanity and rest, and celebrating your accomplishments even when they don’t seem like something worth celebrating. Bonus topics include kanban boards, fluffernutter, and the return of Gio’s drag alter-ego, Paprika. Tweet us @listen2mepodcast, DM us on Instagram, message us on Facebook or email us at listen2mepodc...2020-08-0541 minListen 2 MeE14 · The Conscious Creative with Kelly SmallHave you ever wondered how to keep your sanity as a career creative in today’s cutthroat capitalist economy? This episode is all about how to consciously elevate your pursuit of creative success and sustainability. Gio and Renee have the incomparable pleasure of speaking to Kelly Small (they/them), the author of The Conscious Creative. Kelly left their marketing management position at a big Toronto agency and embarked on a years-long journey that led them through the ups and downs of an existential career crisis, returning to school, stress and illness, culminating in their creation of the incredible resource th...2020-07-2959 minListen 2 MeE13 · Imposters!Have you ever questioned your own self-worth or skills, in spite of your accomplishments? Welcome to imposter syndrome! Gio and Renee disclose their own struggles with rejection, second-guessing themselves, and the work they’ve done to counter those feelings of inadequacy. Bonus topics include the oppressive nature of capitalism, dumb sluts and an appearance from Canada’s own Celine Dion. Tweet us @listen2mepod, DM us on Instagram @listen2mepodcast, message us on Facebook or email us at listen2mepodcast@gmail.com. Like what you hear? Let a creative know! Please rate and subscribe!
https://www.instagram.com...2020-07-2241 minListen 2 MeE12 · Creative SpacesGet cozy and settle in: today’s episode is all about creative spaces. How do you set up your space for optimal creativity? Is it where you live? A coffee shop or library? Do you work better with background noise, or free of distraction? Bonus topics include writing warm-ups, the joy of doors, Gio the Collage Queen and Renee’s undying love of libraries. Tell us more about how you work! Tweet us @listen2mepodcast, DM us on Instagram, message us on Facebook or email us at listen2mepodcast@gmail.com. Like what you hear? Then for the love of e...2020-07-1543 minListen 2 MeE11 · BurnoutWhat do you do when you’re burning out in the middle of a pandemic? CALL YOUR FAMILY. Or, listen to this episode of Listen 2 Me where Gio and Renee offer their best advice for recognizing creative exhaustion when you see it and what to do about it when you’re in the thick of it. We commiserate and kiki about our different levels of productivity during these daunting times, and we want you to join the conversation. Tweet us @listen2mepodcast, DM us on Instagram, message us on Facebook or email us at listen2mepodcast@gmail.com. And if y...2020-07-0851 minListen 2 MeE10 · The Intersection of Queer and CreativeIt’s Episode 10, baby! Gio knew all along we’d make it here. After their Coming Out episode launch (Episode 4--go listen!), Renee wanted to revisit the topic of queerness and how it relates to creativity. So...being queer makes you more creative? No, that’s not what we’re saying--but there are certainly some commonalities between the two. Do you agree? Give the episode a listen and then comment, review or email us at listen2mepodcast@gmail.com and let us know what you think! Listen and subscribe wherever your other favourite podcasts are available.
Connect with us...2020-07-0143 minListen 2 MeE09 · 10 YearsEpisode 9 is a trip down memory lane, highlighting the lessons learned from Gio and Renée’s experiences from exactly a decade ago. Were your early 20s a shitshow? Because ours sure were! The year was 2010, we were both 21-year-olds with terrible eyebrows but a lot of potential. Topics include Livejournal.com, bangs (again!), and the galvanizing power of leaving behind self-doubt.
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https://twitter.com/listen2mepod2020-06-2442 minListen 2 MeE08 · Honouring Your Inner Child with The Art Lab's Samantha WalkerWhat a momentous occasion! In Gio and Renee’s first-ever interview episode, they chat with the humble and talented Sam Walker (she/her), founder and creator of The Art Lab Windsor, an accessible space for anyone in the community to come and make process-based art. Sam’s approach is founded on her love of the creative, and The Art Lab’s roots are in the ECE program she completed when she thought her career would take her into childhood. We talk with her about the magic of play, the importance of art within a community, why slime is truly everyt...2020-06-171h 03Listen 2 MeE07 · Brand (New) YouEpisode 7 is a primer on personal brands--what they are, how to make one, and why it’s important. Gio talks about how he built his personal brand over the years and Renée offers pointers for those of us just starting out. You can check out giografik.com and reneewrought.com for a better idea of what we’re talking about when we mention our respective websites. Bonus topics include chia pets and the launch of our brand-new segment: Creative Power Up! Connect with us on social media, rate our episodes and subscribe! Music provided by Audionautix.com.
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https://www.instagram.com/listen2mepodcast/2020-05-2744 minListen 2 MeE05 · From Collab to Collage: Staying Sane While Hustling CreativeStaying sane while hustling--what does that look like? Don’t ask us. But we can tell you about our experience with the ins and outs of compensated and uncompensated creative gigs; how to figure out what gigs are worth it as you get your creative career started, or when you’re further down the road; and how to assert yourself and get paid what you’re worth! Visit giografik.com and reneewrought.com to see more of Gio and Renée’s work. Music provided by Audionautix.com.
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https://www.instagram.com/listen2me...2020-05-2046 minListen 2 MeE04 · Out of the Closet, Into the CanEpisode 4 is out of the closet and ready to drop. Gio and Renée ask each other about their respective coming out experiences--even though they’ve known each other for years, even they still don’t know some of the details. They discuss how their queerness has informed their creative work and career trajectories. TW: coming out, internalized homophobia, gender dysphoria, body dysmorphia, LGBTQ+ related slurs. Music provided by Audionautix.com.
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https://twitter.com/listen2mepod2020-05-1352 minListen 2 MeE03 · Kill Your Muse, DarlingInspiration, you elusive bitch! In Episode 3, Gio and Renée are talking about pursuing the drive to work, the impact the continuing pandemic state has had on their creative output, and how to kill your darlings (or murdering your muse). Bonus topics include how important it is to take the time to validate your own successes, and the danger of cutting your own bangs. Music provided by Audionautix.com.
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https://twitter.com/listen2mepod2020-05-0639 minListen 2 MeE02 · QuarantimeIt’s time to get quaran-cozy! Settle in for Gio and Renée’s chat in Episode 2, a timely exploration of the early days of the novel coronavirus crisis--or as we’re calling it: Quarantime. We give you tips for how to stay sane and creative; talk about the grief of missing our normal routine; and commiserate about the difficulties caused by the pandemic. Don’t forget to rate and subscribe! Music in this episode is provided by Audionautix.com.
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https://www.facebook.com/listen2me...2020-04-2948 minListen 2 MeE01 · Meet the QueersWe’re here, we’re queer, and we’re broadcasting ourselves directly into your ear(holes) with our mix of irreverent humour and (actually pretty helpful sometimes) advice! In this episode, Renee and Gio discuss their individual backgrounds and what brought them to podcasting. Get to know a thing or five about them. We apologize for the breathing this episode! We've fixed that - ahem - issue. Music in this episode is graciously provided by Audionautix.com.
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...2020-04-2231 minListen 2 MeE00 · Listen 2 My TrailerDo you want to be healthier? Achieve inner peace? Be more productive? Cultivate self-love? So do we! Spend some time with two old friends as we deep dive into the world of self-improvement and creative achievement. Renee and Gio are lifelong queer creatives who are fun, witty and the only thing missing from your life. We love giving unsolicited, unqualified advice—and sometimes it’s even pretty good! Now we’re bringing it to your ears. Listen to us: it’ll be worth it. Music in this trailer is provided by audionautix.com.
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