![Healing Trauma Through Poetry]()
January 15, 2021
In this episode of Uncomfortable, I chat with Bailee Noella. Bailee just released a book of poetry, Bathtub in Flames. She explains how her poetry was a way to help her heal the trauma she suffered due to sexual abuse.
*Trigger Warning* - Bailee and I do touch on the sexual abuse that she went through as a child. If you suffered abuse, you may wish to skip this episode. If you need support, please scroll down for some resources.
About Bailee
Bailee Noella is a poet who writes for personal catharsis and to help others feel less alone. Drawing inspiration from poets like Charles Bukowski and Alex Dimitrov, Bailee seeks to remove the stigma from mental illness through her work. It is for this same reason that she founded the streetwear brand cyno apparel, which features designs that raise awareness of mental health issues. Bailee also works as an editor, book marketer, freelance writer, and fashion stylist.
When she’s not writing or coordinating outfits, you may find Bailee buying things she doesn’t need, researching skin care, or doodling on napkins.
If you enjoyed our conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!
Resources:
Purchase Bailee's book of poetry "Bathtub in Flames" on Amazon:
You can follow Bailee over on social media:
Instagram: @baileenoella
Twitter: @baileenoella
Make sure to check out her apparel brand Cyno Apparel:
www.cynoapparel.com
Other Resources:
If you have suffered from sexual abuse and need help, I would recommend working with a professional. Here is just a small list of resources that might help.
![Pop Culture Witchcraft]()
December 21, 2020
In this episode of Uncomfortable, I chat with Tarot Reader + Pop Culture Witch Lindsay Braynen. Lindsay educates me on how witchcraft has influenced pop culture and vice versa; how it’s largely a feminist movement; and how colonialism tried to destroy the spiritual practices of black and indigenous cultures.
About Lindsay:
Lindsay [she/her] is the Card-Reader + Star-Gazer behind DarkLake Tarot, where she combines her intuition, love of storytelling, and esoteric studies to encourage her clients to ‘Rediscover The Divine On Your Own Terms’ via tarot + astrology readings. As a pop-culture witch she also alchemizes those studies with her interest in the persevering and transformative powers of Fandom, which she explores in her podcast ‘Hey Magical Girl!’. An immigrant from The Bahamas, Lindsay recognizes that she operates on the stolen territories of Turtle Island known as ‘Vancouver, Canada’, and devotes all her practices to the decolonization and liberation of Black Diasporic + Indigenous Peoples.
Resources:
You can follow Lindsay over on her website + social media:
www.darklaketarot.com
Tune into her podcast at: www.heymagicgirl.com
Social Media:
Dark Lake Tarot:
Instagram: @DarkLakeTarot
Facebook: @DarkLakeTarot
Twitter: @DarkLakeTarot
Hey Magical Girl:
Twitter: @HeyMagicalGirl
Other Resources:
The Missing Witches Podcast
![The Agenda Period]()
November 19, 2020
Can you sync your cycle with your business?
Yes you can! In this episode of Uncomfortable, I chat with Alyx Coble-Frakes, co-founder of The Agenda. Early in Alyx’s health coaching career it became obvious to her that her desire to do certain tasks varied based on where she was at in her menstrual cycle.
About Alyx
Alyx is the co-founder of The Agenda. Early in Alyx’s health coaching career it became obvious to her that her desire to do certain tasks varied based on where she was at in her menstrual cycle. Detailed observation revealed that sales calls that happened when she was ovulating had higher conversion rates. Both Alyx and her co-founder Sunny realized that when people have a deeper understanding of their natural hormonal fluctuations they can use them to their advantage and see amazing results in their lives and in their business. The Agenda. was born! After a successful kickstarter campaign, they designed and launched a physical planner. However what came up most frequently was the desire for an app. A year later they launched another kickstarter and are currently hard at work on The Agenda. app.
Resources:
You can follow Alyx and The Agenda. over on their website + social media:
www.theagendaperiod.com
Social Media:
Instagram: @theagendaperiod
Twitter: @TheAgendaPeriod
Facebook @theagendaperiod
Other Resources:
Books:
Websites:
October 13, 2020
How hard is it to rebuild your community after immigrating to another country?
In this episode of Uncomfortable, I chat with Mo! Sibyl is a Nigerian-born, US-educated, Korean speaking, struggling intellectual. Mo! moved to the US nine years ago to pursue the next steps in her education and career. In this episode, she shares a few of the lessons that she learned when she immigrated.
Mo! also hosts The More Sibyl Podcast. A podcast about culture and cultural nomads designed for Blacks and Asians and those who love them!
Resources:
You can follow Mo! over on her website + social media:
mosibyl.com
Make sure to subscribe to The More Sibyl Podcast over on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!
Instagram: @mosibyl and @themoresibylpodcast
![Trauma & Family Estrangement]()
September 18, 2020
What is trauma exactly? And how do we cope with it?
In this episode of Uncomfortable, I chat with Joyous D. Williams, a mental health professional, art therapist, and coach. We discuss trauma, the different ways to cope, and dealing with family estrangement.
About Joyous
Joyous D. Williams is a Mental Health Professional serving the greater Cleveland, Ohio area. She is a nationally board-certified Art Therapist, specializing in brain-based, trauma-informed care. She’s also a coach studied in “Transformative Presence” and has lived experience changing the very fabric of her own life. Personally, Joy is also a Growth-Oriented Mama of 1, a Life Partner, a Dog Mom to 3 unruly beasts and a voracious reader.
Please note that there is some adult language in this episode so pop on those headphones!
If you enjoyed our conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!
Resources
You can follow Joyous over on her website + social media:
everywomxn.com
Joy’s mailing list/Free Coaching Download: coach.everywomxn.com
Instagram: @recreatingdawn and @traumaclearingbadass.
Other Resources:
If you are dealing with trauma and need help immediately then know that you can always call the Crisis Canada Hotline at 1.833.456.4566. They have amazing trained volunteers available 24/7. For more information visit their website
www.crisisservicescanada.ca.
![I Call Bullshit]()
July 16, 2020
How can you stay true to yourself, so you can call in the right relationship?
In this episode of Uncomfortable, Deb chats with Self Care & Self Love Advocate Andrea Hill on calling yourself out on your own bullshit. Andrea explains how working on YOU by calling yourself out on your own bullshit, will allow you to feel more empowered, helping you to find a relationship that aligns with your true self.
About Our Guest:
Andrea Hill is a bullshit disturber, blindspot revealer, and love seeking missile. She guides you in doing the work required to have the love you desire.
You might recognize Andrea from the very first podcast episode where I chatted with her and Jill Prescott about love, sex and relationships – and what a great conversation it was. In this episode Andrea and I talk about calling yourself out on your own bullshit.
Please note that there is some adult language in this episode so pop on those headphones!
If you enjoyed our conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!
You can also watch the video of our interview over on YouTube by clicking here.
Resources:
You can follow Andrea over on her website + social media:
www.andreahill.love
Find our more about Andrea’s “I Call Bullshit” program by clicking here.
Instagram: @_andreahill_
July 3, 2020
What is the difference between an "exclusive companion" and "sex work"? In what ways to do those who work in the sex industry keep themselves as safe as possible?
In this episode of Uncomfortable, Deb chats with Amy Taylor, model and exclusive companion who answers the above questions. Amy also talks about her experience of dealing with haters on and offline and explains the pros and cons of legalizing the sex industry.
About Amy:
Amy Taylor is the an exclusive companion based in the United States. She is an MBA, a commercial pilot, a several-time cover model on Playboy, Maxim, FHM, L’Officiel, and inside Esquire, GQ, and Sports Illustrated. When she's not in front of the camera, she’s enjoying the sunny skies flying, keeping fit at her gym in Los Angeles, or at the beach playing with her dog.
Please note that there is some adult language in this episode so pop on those headphones!
![Gender Identity + Gender Affirming Surgery]()
June 18, 2020
What does “Gender Identity” mean? And how could the decision to go through gender affirming surgery impact a relationship?
In this episode of Uncomfortable, Deb chats with Vancouver’s favourite queer podcasters Sara & Chloe about Sara’s decision to go through gender affirming surgery. Sara talks us through their decision and why the surgery is important to them. And Chloe tells us how she felt when Sara shared this decision with her.
About Chloe & Sarah:
Chloe is a queer, disabled feminist. She has worked in the non-profit sector for most of her adult life. In her free time, she produces and co-hosts the independent podcast
Warriors, Bards N’ Brews with her spouse, Sara. The podcast was born of their mutual love of Xena: Warrior Princess and queer media in general (and their inability to stop talking about it). She is also a cohost of
Feminist Killjoys: A Music Podcast with Sara. She also enjoys photography, being a cat mom, and craft beer.
Sara is a grad school escapee who still studies pop culture and gender theory for fun. When not at work in the nonprofit sector and being a part-time beer wrangler, they cohost
Warriors Bards ‘n Brews (A Xena Podcast) with their wife and homicidal housecat, and also cohost
Feminist Killjoys: A Music Podcast. They also spend a lot of time yelling about queer things on the internet.
Resources:
![Sexual Abuse Prevention through Sex Education]()
May 22, 2020
How can parents help prevent sexual abuse happening to their kids? In this episode, Deb chats with Sexual Health Educator, Amy Lang. Amy helps educate parents and professionals about sexual abuse prevention by preparing them to have conversations about sex with children from a young age.
About Amy
A sexual health educator for over 20 years, Amy Lang, MA helps parents of all beliefs talk with kids of any age about the birds and the bees. She also works with youth serving organizations and provides childhood sexuality and sexual abuse prevention training. Amy’s lively, engaging and down-to-earth style makes these uncomfortable topics easier to handle. Her professional clients include the US Air Force Youth and Family Services, Boys and Girls Clubs and numerous early childhood conferences and organizations. Amy’s talks, books, online solution center and podcast helps parents learn how to talk to their kids about this important and awkward part of life. Amy is still married to her first husband and they are getting the hang of parenting their teenage son. She lives in Seattle, WA. You can learn more about Amy and her work at BirdsAndBeesAndKids.com
If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!
Resources:
Find out more about Amy and her work by checking out her website, podcast and following her on social media:
Website: www.birdsandbeesandkids.com
Podcast: Just Say This!
Phone in to ask a question: 1-206-926-1522
Facebook: @birdsbeeskids
Twitter: @birdsandbees
Books we mentioned:
Other resources:
![Overcoming Bullying]()
May 8, 2020
The trauma of racial bullying can continue affecting people of colour for a long time. Jade Pattenden, who was born in Scotland and then moved to Canada at a young age, has used advice and techniques that she read in self-help books to overcome the trauma of bullying and even find empathy towards those who bullied her.
In this episode, we chat with Jade about moving forward after bullying and discovering that what you were bullied for can be your biggest asset.
About Jade
Jade is the host of “I’m an Adult, Now What?”, a podcast aimed at anyone who’s trying to find their way as an adult. She works in Vancouver as an actor, background actor and model. Jade is biracial immigrant who spent the first half of her life in Scotland, before moving to Canada. Through trial and error she has slowly been navigating adulthood and feels it’s important to process childhood traumas in order to move forward into a healthy adulthood.
As always, there is some strong language in this episode so make sure to pop on those headphones.
If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!
Resources:
Find out more about Jade by checking out her website, podcast and following her on social media:
Website: www.jadepattenden.com
Podcast: I’m an adult, now what?
Instagram: @jadepattenden
Twitter: @jadepattenden
Books we mentioned:
Heal Your Body by Louise Hay
