Queers and Co.
29 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 3 years ago -Hi, I'm Gem! Join me as I chat to queer folks and allies about self-empowerment, body liberation and activism. My guests are at the forefront of change-making, working in areas like fat activism, sex positivity, intersectional feminism, drag/cabaret, LGBTQ+ activism and children's rights.
I'm a transformational coach, activist and founder of the Queers & Co. zine, podcast and community. Through my work, I support LGBTQ+ folks and allies to reclaim their personal power and take up space so that they can impact the world in ways they have only dreamt of.
Find out more about my work: www.gemkennedy.com
Find out more about Queers & Co.: www.gemkennedy.com/queersandco
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Episodes
Aisha Shaibu - Community Ignites Joy and Belonging - 028
June 16, 2021 08:00 - 53 minutes - 37.4 MBMy final guest this series is the wonderful Aisha Shaibu (she/her). The founder of 'Moonlight Experiences', Aisha is a proud queer activist who champions integration, diversity & equality. Aisha believes in using the economical power of LGBTQ+ tourism and nightlife to help amplify marginalized voices and transform communities. She is also a prominent event producer who works for organisations such as UK Black Pride & London Queer Fashion Show. Aisha has been featured in the Mayor Of London's...
John Pendal - I Wasn't a Very Good Gay - 027
May 26, 2021 08:00 - 56 minutes - 34.6 MBThis week I’m joined by experienced BDSM educator and kinky stand-up comedian John Pendal (he/ him). In 2003, John became the 25th (and only British) winner of the International Mr. Leather contest in Chicago. Since then he has travelled extensively leading workshops, giving speeches, as a master of ceremonies or doing stand-up comedy. He now works online with English-speaking clients anywhere in the world and loves helping people who identify as outsiders. Join us as we chat about accident...
Artemis D. Bear - Childism Underpins All Oppression - 026
May 19, 2021 08:00 - 58 minutes - 44.3 MBThis week I’m joined by the glorious Artemis D. Bear!! Artemis (they/them) is a non-binary queer iconoclast, who always has too many projects on the go. They are the founder and director of The Garden, a self directed learning community for young people in Bristol, and work for the Phoenix Education Trust on the Freedom to Learn programme. They are also a drag king, stage manager and queer cabaret producer. Last year they founded UBI Lab Bristol, campaigning for a basic income trial, which t...
Heidi Mavir - Autistic Actually! - 025
May 05, 2021 08:00 - 58 minutes - 49 MBThis week I’m joined by the unstoppable Heidi Mavir (she/they), a public speaker, qualified mental health first aider, autistic adult, performer and podcaster. Her advocacy work includes educating people on neurodiversity and speaking on mental health, to reduce stigma and enable people to "embrace their inner weirdo." Heidi’s motto is “no guilt, no shame, no self-inflicted emotional pain”. Join us as we chat about how Heidi discovered her own neurodivergence, severe burnout and the road to...
Lydia Bernsmeier-Rullow - Building Your Own Little World - 024
April 28, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 47.1 MBThis week I’m joined by Lydia Bernsmeier-Rullow (she/her). Lydia is a journalist at the BBC, a writer, a poet and a drag king. Join us as we chat about her journey to understanding her neurodivergence, being a mixed race Black woman with ADHD, her drag king persona Dick Slick, how wearing a beard makes her want to rip her own face off, working towards body neutrality, normalising talking about mental health and building your own social media world when the wider world isn’t built for you an...
Bear Hebert - We Deserve a Future - 023
April 14, 2021 08:00 - 57 minutes - 44.4 MBMy guest this week is Bear Hebert (they/them), an anti-capitalist business consultant, radical life coach, and social justice educator. In work and in life, Bear actively looks at the intersections of power and privilege and will ask you to do the same, lovingly pushing you and your business in the direction of more liberated moments. Their current offerings include anti-capitalist business consulting and Undoing Patriarchy, an online course for feminist men+. Join us as we chat about what...
Bear Hebert - We deserve a future - 023
April 14, 2021 08:00 - 57 minutes - 44.4 MBMy guest this week is Bear Hebert (they/them), an anti-capitalist business consultant, radical life coach, and social justice educator. In work and in life, Bear actively looks at the intersections of power and privilege and will ask you to do the same, lovingly pushing you and your business in the direction of more liberated moments. Their current offerings include anti-capitalist business consulting and Undoing Patriarchy, an online course for feminist men+. Join us as we chat about what i...
Chuck SJ - Am I Even Queer Anymore? - 022
April 07, 2021 08:00 - 59 minutes - 36 MBThis week, I’m joined by Chuck SJ (pronouns: Chuck or they/them), who is a multidisciplinary artist, often exploring trans and autistic matters through various forms. Chuck has completed five European tours, twelve UK tours, 15 albums and 2 EPs. Chuck is well known for their gripping stage performance, unique guitar skills and brutal honesty. Join us as we chat about Chuck spending the past year in a cabin in the woods, the constant accommodations autistic folx make for neurotypicals and th...
Erene Hadjiioannou - Psychotherapy as activism - 021
March 31, 2021 08:00 - 57 minutes - 48.1 MBThis week, I’m joined by integrative psychotherapist, writer, speaker and activist, Erene Hadjiioannou. As well as running an LGBTQ+ affirmative private practice, Erene's work focuses on the topic of trauma as a result of sexual violence, as outlined in an upcoming textbook, Psychotherapy with Survivors of Sexual Violence: Inside and Outside the Room. Join us as we chat about creating safe spaces for queer folks in therapy, psychotherapy as activism, the stereotypes surrounding domestic abu...
Cedar McCloud - My gender is green - 020
March 17, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 45 MBThis week, I’m joined by queer witch, illustrator and author, Cedar McCloud (they/them). Cedar started reading tarot in 2003, going on to found Numinous Spirit Press and create beautiful, radical decks with a social justice lens, such as The Numinous Tarot and The Threadbound Oracle. They believe storytelling is a beautiful tool for healing from trauma and enjoy archaic crafts, nature walks and fashion. Join us as we chat about exploring ourselves through art, the importance of acknowledgin...
Lindsay McGlone - I wore what I wanted to say to the world - 019
March 10, 2021 08:00 - 53 minutes - 33.7 MBThis week, I’m joined by Lindsay McGlone aka The Fierce Fat Feminist; an activist, public speaker, producer, stage manager, Instagram coach and teacher. Lindsay is a force to be reckoned with, running numerous successful campaigns highlighting fatphobia, most recently targeting Airbnb. She was also named Young Changemaker of the Year in the IWC Igniting Inspiration Awards 2020. Joining me whilst recovering from surgery, hear us talk about how wearing slogan t-shirts changed Lindsay’s life, ...
Holly Revell - Does this look queer enough? - 018
March 03, 2021 12:15 - 49 minutes - 36.3 MBThis week, I’m joined by artist, photographer and documenter Holly Revell, who has a keen eye for preserving and collaborating with other queer artists, making images and portraits which explore performance and transforming identities. Holly’s work is archived at Bishopsgate Institute. Join us as we chat about being a groupie in the 90’s, becoming a professional photographer working in the queer underground, her beautiful new zine from her People Like Us project, not fitting into the art wo...
Adele Jarrett-Kerr - I value wisdom a lot more than I value knowledge - 017
February 17, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 49.6 MBThis week, I’m joined by Adele Jarrett-Kerr; a mother, writer, home educator and breastfeeding counsellor, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, now living in Cornwall. Adele also works with her family’s small, regenerative farm near Falmouth and hosts a podcast about human connection called Revillaging. Join us as we talk about the importance of developing critical thinking, what our children teach us, experiencing colonial dismissal, deprogramming from the dominant culture, different ways ...
Katy Lees - Everybody deserves respect, so I deserve respect - 016
February 10, 2021 08:00 - 35 minutes - 21.7 MBThis week, I’m joined by Katy Lees (they/them), a queer writer and psychotherapist from the North East of England. They can be found writing therapy tips, poetry, anti-oppression rants, short stories, and more. They are currently writing a good mental health guide for trans and non-binary people, to be published soon by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Join us as we talk about the oppression different sized fat folx experience, trans and non-binary mental health and self-care, Katy’s experience...
Lindo Bacon - On Radical Belonging - Part 2 - 015
January 27, 2021 09:00 - 20 minutes - 13.2 MBI’m joined again by researcher and former professor Dr. Lindo Bacon (they/them). In this very special follow up recording, Lindo and I reflect on our experience of recording part one. We talk about the power of letting go of perfectionism, connecting with each other from a place of vulnerability and the gift of feeling into our bodies during conversation. About Lindo: For nearly two decades Lindo has taught courses in social justice, health, weight and nutrition. They are also the author of...
Lindo Bacon - On Radical Belonging - Part 1 - 014
January 27, 2021 09:00 - 50 minutes - 35.8 MBI’m joined by researcher and former professor Dr. Lindo Bacon (they/them) for a special two part episode. For nearly two decades they have taught courses in social justice, health, weight and nutrition. They are also the author of Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight, and co-authored Body Respect: What Conventional Health Books Get Wrong, Leave Out, or Just Plain Fail to Understand About Weight. Their newly released book, Radical Belonging: How to Survive and Thrive i...
Jade Elouise aka Bodiposipoet - You can be everything that you are - 013
January 20, 2021 09:15 - 57 minutes - 44.9 MBIn this episode, I’m joined by Spiritual Healer, Body Positivity Advocate, poet and artist, Jade Elouise (Bodiposipoet). Her activism, creative outlets and spiritual work all centre around advocating for social justice, equality and equity for marginalised bodies on a systemic level, while also promoting self-healing and self-acceptance on a personal one. We chat about Jade’s work to reclaim the co-opted body positivity movement, how spirituality and activism can work so well together, spea...
Rubyyy Jones - I'm put back where it all began - 012
January 13, 2021 09:15 - 56 minutes - 44.3 MBIn this episode, I’m joined by Rubyyy Jones (they/them), an artist, performer and space maker who specialises in the body, the bawdyyy and deep feels. As an artist they work in live art, photography and film, creating a spectrum of experiences from silly to sublime. They are an icon in the world's of Drag, Burlesque and Cabaret and a Mxther and mentor to many in the industry. Two years after our first interview together, we chat about rediscovering moving for joy in lockdown, neurodiverge...
Lola Phoenix - Not your tour guide through the museum of oppression - 011
April 08, 2020 09:30 - 1 hour - 45.1 MBIn this episode of Queers & Co., I’m joined by Lola Phoenix, a queer, non-binary disabled American living in the UK. Lola writes and produces a weekly advice column and podcast called Non-Monogamy Help as well as writing on social justice topics from gender to disability to poverty. We chat about so much juicy stuff, including how labels and identifiers can help us to feel less alone, whether polyamory is a marginalised identity, the importance of taking the time to educate people without j...
Cynthia Rodriguez - I am still Mexican, even when I'm British - 010
April 02, 2020 11:05 - 47 minutes - 29.6 MBIn this episode of Queers & Co., I’m joined by Cynthia Rodriguez, a Mexican-British writer and performer who is constantly experimenting with the possibilities of spoken word. They are international, intersectional and interdisciplinary. We chat about being an Anglophile, the reality of life in the UK compared to the image of Cool Britannia, racism in the queer punk scene and being a person of colour in the UK. We also talk about the importance of speaking the truth, how to look after yours...
Cameryn Moore - Facilitator of smut - 009
March 25, 2020 08:30 - 56 minutes - 38.2 MBIn this episode of Queers & Co., I’m joined by Cameryn Moore, an award-winning playwright/performer with seven solo shows under her belt but perhaps best known as the founder of Smut Slam, a global network of community dirty-storytelling events. We chat about becoming an activist in the mid-80s, the power of learning to dance later in life, sex positivity versus being sex aware, how people who have a problem with sex work really have a problem with capitalism, growing up Mormon and undoing ...
Imogen Fox - The most dangerous message I've ever received - 008
March 18, 2020 06:00 - 53 minutes - 35.8 MBIn this episode of Queers & Co., I’m joined by Imogen Fox, a queer Disabled femme who serves up radical body politics, anti-diet talk and non-judgemental compassion. We chat about Imogen’s first foray into disability rights activism as a teen, the trauma of eating rice cakes and cottage cheese and being indoctrinated into diet culture by those closest to us. We also talk about radical Disability politics, the co-opting and white-washing of movements and whether it’s really possible to use ...
Kristy Forbes - I thank the universe for the autistic community - 007
March 11, 2020 06:00 - 1 hour - 43.8 MBIn this episode of Queers & Co., I’m joined by autism and neurodiversity support specialist, speaker, writer and creator of inTune Families, Kristy Forbes. We chat about embracing autism as an identity and culture rather than a disorder, moving away from pathologising behaviour, the importance of being able to self-identify as neurodivergent, the deeply problematic nature of compliance therapies and radical honesty as a form of self-care. CW: This episode contains talk of ABA and complianc...
Lady Blue Phoenix - A force of nature - 006
February 26, 2020 06:15 - 52 minutes - 37.2 MBIn this episode of Queers & Co., I’m joined by Lady Blue Phoenix, burlesque performer and member of the Rock with the Foxes troupe. When on stage, she's been described as a force of nature! We chat about Columbia - the long-forgotten personification of the USA, our power to make social change, creating safer spaces in burlesque, learning to live with mental ill-health and what happens when we can no longer vault our pain away, embracing our shadow side and her experience of coming out as bi...
Hannah Rose - Listen to trans people - 005
February 19, 2020 06:00 - 51 minutes - 34.2 MBIn this episode of Queers & Co., I’m joined by Hannah Rose, a non-binary trans woman of colour and London-based activist and event organiser. We chat about activism, marrying three men and a dog, the lack of trans POC representation, procrastinating as a form of self-care, how to create safe and supportive community events, how to be a better ally to trans folks and some of the hottest events on the London queer scene. If you haven't already, be sure to join our Facebook community to conne...
Chiron Stamp - Reading "A Love Poem to my Transness" - 004
February 12, 2020 06:00 - 57 minutes - 38.7 MBIn this episode of Queers & Co., I’m joined by Chiron Stamp, trans artist, writer, facilitator and femmboy alien. We chat about non-binary thinking beyond gender, intersectional collective care in practice, navigating the brutal legal system, neurodiversity as being like biodiversity, how capitalism tells us to move really fast, the difference between boundaries and limits and whether all queers are from another planet. Plus, an incredible and rare performance of Chiron’s work, “A Love Poem...
Sophie Christophy - Children are people, not property - 003
February 05, 2020 06:00 - 57 minutes - 39.4 MBIn this episode of Queers & Co., I’m joined by Sophie Christophy, feminist, children’s rights activist and co-founder of a self-directed, consent and rights based education setting called the Cabin. We chat about children’s rights and how the dominant parent culture is a representation of patriarchy, how schooling is not designed to allow for individuality, queering education and the importance of ed positivity. If you haven't already, be sure to join our Facebook community to connect with...
Rachel Sparks – Something in me was ignited and I was like, "F*ck this!" - 002
January 29, 2020 08:00 - 50 minutes - 32.2 MBIn this episode of Queers & Co., I'm joined by dancer, choreographer, dynamic relationship facilitator and heart centred dance & embodiment educator, Rachel Sparks. We chat about gender-neutral partner dancing, the importance of consent, the experience of making the short film, Swivel, as well as the lack of representation of LGBTQ+ folks in mainstream shows like Strictly Come Dancing. If you haven't already, be sure to join our Facebook community to connect with other like-minded queer f...
Dr. Charlotte Cooper - A Fat Femme Tomato Lady Doing a High-Kick - 001
January 21, 2020 12:42 - 56 minutes - 38.1 MBIn this episode of Queers & Co., I’m joined by Dr. Charlotte Cooper, psychotherapist, cultural worker and the author of Fat Activism: A Radical Social Movement and the newly updated Fat Activist Vernacular. We chat about what it means to be a good ally, how climate activism is yet to get its act together around fat, what it means to be queer, punks who hate “normals”, the role of dance in exploring your body as a fat person and Charlotte’s encounter with a fat femme tomato lady doing a high...