Season 3, Episode 2 | Wholeness is No Trifling Matter

This episode takes its name from the first pages of Toni Cade Bambara’s novel The Salt Eaters, where healer Minnie Ransom tells activist Velma Henry, “wholeness is no trifling matter.” We join mama, yoga instructor, lover, and Kindergarten teacher Brittney Elyse to talk about what it means to find pleasure in what Bambara calls “the weight of wellness,” when she leaves and then returns as her full(er) self to teaching. Brittney shares her migration story from North Carolina to Massachusetts and back, reflecting on how she began to unlearn unpleasure, uncare, and working to capacity (which Audre Lorde tells us are not the ways of the erotic).

We invite you to share your reflections. What is bringing you pleasure and rest this month? Send your thoughts to us at [email protected], leave an audio message, or slide into our DMs on IG @dancingondesks.

Transcript (Finalized Monday, Dec. 4, 2023)

The clips from the protest at the end of this episode come from an October 28, 2023 protest in London, UK, calling for a ceasefire in Palestine in solidarity with freedom and protection for Palestinians.

BRITTNEY’S SUNDAY SWEETNESS

Instagram: @brittneyelyseyoga 

INTELLECTUAL INHERITANCE

bell hooks, All About Love

Toni Cade Bambara, The Salt Eaters

Tricia Hersey, Rest is Resistance

A Word on Words with John Seigenthaler, featuring bell hooks, who discusses her newest book All About Love, PBS, 1999

MUSIC

Dancing on Desks theme song composed and arranged by Mara Johnson and Elliott Wilkes 

“Cruise” and “Memories” Prod by Yogic Beats

“In Dreamland” Prod by Chill Peach

“Biscuit” Prod. by Lukrembo

“Wine” Prod. by Lukrembo

“Lighta” Prod. by rémdolla

“Homme” Prod. by rémdolla