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QUEST: A Journey To Wellness

QUEST: A Journey To Wellness
Author: Kinoko Chocolates & Puka Puka Creative
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Description
Join us on a QUEST to find out what wellness really means. In this podcast, you will hear personal and informative stories from queer folks and allies who’ve taken their happiness and well-being into their own hands. Listen in as V aka Vanessa and special guest co-hosts guide you on a QUEST of Queer, Understanding, Education, Storytelling, and Transformation.
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Happy Pride Queer Kittens!
For our final episode of season two we wanted to honor this month of celebration/protest by featuring a true beacon of hope in the SF community; the amazingly talented Niko Storment!
Niko Storment (He/They) is a transgender event producer, videographer/photographer, and singer-songwriter. He is the founder and creator of Rosen Creative House (RCH), a creative agency aiming to center and uplift the art of queer women and transgender people.
Listen in as Niko discusses his journey to wellness in the queer nightlife of SF, and how producing events/ safe spaces for his community brings him purpose and joy.
Niko shares how centering trans joy in his work and life amidst the current political climate keeps him hopeful, and is his form of protest against the powers working against the trans community.
We hope you enjoy this episode. Until next season Queer Kittens!
FEATURED GUEST:
Niko Storment (he/they) is a transgender event producer, videographer/photographer, and singer-songwriter. He is the founder and creator of Rosen Creative House (RCH), a creative agency aiming to center and uplift the art of queer women and transgender people. Through RCH, Niko is able to produce a multitude of events and projects like The Trans Futures Stage at SF Pride, VAMP - A Queer and Trans Dance Party, The Trans Agenda - a trans podcast by Transclinique, The Queer Wellness Symposium, and many other projects. You can find out more about Niko at www.rosencreativehouse.com, or by following him on Instagram
Niko Storment
IG : @Niko_storment
@vamp.queerevents
@rosencreativehouse
Linktree : Rosen Creative House Website + Upcoming Events
WELLNESS RESOURCES:
Check out all of the resources mentioned in our episodes here.
HOST:
V aka Vanessa Vasquez @lovenessmonsta (All Pronouns Accepted).
THE CREW:
Executive Producers: Stevie Cua (all pronouns accepted) @steviesees
Producer: Leah Jackson (She/Her) @djmsjackson
Associate Producer: Raphaella Landestoy (She/Her) @la.vida.bruja14
Music: Produced and Composed by BASK aka Eric Guizar Vasquez (He/Him)
Cover art designer: Ace Vincenzo Canzone (He/Him) @thehoodedace
CONNECT:
Follow us on Instagram @questwellnesspod
Email us your community S/O questwellnesspod@gmail.com
Podcast is produced in collaboration with Kinoko Chocolates & Puka Puka Creative.
Episode transcripts available by request.
Be an official supporter of the podcast DONATE HERE if you are able.
Spring has Sprung Queer Kittens, it's time to dust off the cobwebs of winter! This episode we will be giving you some tips on how to incorporate the energy of spring into your life and spirit. Join us as we talk to our associate producer Raphaella Landestoy, as she shares some of her favorite cleansing practices for your mind, body and home. We hope this episode will help recharge your life and bring you closer to your authentic self!
FEATURED GUEST:
Raphaella Landestoy @la.vida.bruja14 (She/Her), Associate Producer of QUEST Wellness Podcast
She's an Afro-Latina, Colombian y Dominicana from the Bay Area. An energy healer, bad bitch witch from the House of Hufflepuff. She haas a love for hiking, traveling, and getting weird with those I love, has a big heart and even bigger hair.
WELLNESS RESOURCES DOC:
Check out the doc for all the resources listed in each episode.
HOST:
V aka Vanessa Vasquez (All Pronouns Accepted) @lovenessmonsta
Kori Houston (He/Them) @who_lost_grandpa
THE CREW:
Executive Producers: Kori Houston (He/Them) @who_lost_grandpa & Stevie Cua (She/He/Them) @steviesees
Producer: Leah Jackson (She/Her) @djmsjackson
Associate Producer: Raphaella Landestoy (She/Her) @la.vida.bruja14
Music: Produced and Composed by BASK aka Eric Guizar Vasquez (He/Him)
Cover Art Designer: Ace Vincenzo Canzone (He/Him) @thehoodedace
CONNECT:
Follow us on Instagram @questwellnesspod
Email us your community S/O questwellnesspod@gmail.com
Podcast is produced in collaboration with Kinoko Chocolates & Puka Puka Creative.
Episode transcripts available by request.
Be an official supporter of the podcast DONATE HERE if you are able to.
Join us on our part 2 of the mushroom spectrum where work to de-stigmatize psilocybin and bring attention to its powerful medicinal and spiritual capabilities.
We discuss the history of the psychedelic renaissance, different social/political impacts psychedelics have had in the United States, and give you useful tips and information on how to use mushrooms in your own wellness journeys.
Plus our co-hosts, Vanessa, Kori and our guest, Stevie Cuo co-founder of Kinoko Chocolates dive into their own transformational and trippy stories using psychedelic mushrooms in their wellness practice.
We hope you enjoy Queer Kittens!
FEATURED GUEST:
Our guest this week is one of our amazing Executive Producers Stevie Cua (All Pronouns Accepted. They are also the Co-Founder of Kinoko Chocolates, a functional mushroom chocolate bar brand that is making the consumption of healthy mushrooms easy and delicious. Born and raised in San Francisco, Stevie aims to anchor their entrepreneurial endeavors in the power of intention, the optimization of self and community.
WELLNESS RESOURCES:
All the resources mentioned on each episode in this doc here.
HOST:
V aka Vanessa Vasquez @lovenessmonsta (All Pronouns Accepted).
THE CREW:
Executive Producers: Kori Houston (He/Them) @who_lost_grandpa & Stevie Cua (They/Them) @steviesees
Producer: Leah Jackson (She/Her) @djmsjackson
Associate Producer: Raphaella Landestoy (She/Her) @la.vida.bruja14
Music: Produced and Composed by BASK aka Eric Guizar Vasquez (He/Him)
Cover art designer: Ace Vincenzo Canzone (He/Him) @thehoodedace
CONNECT:
Follow us on Instagram @questwellnesspod
Email us your community S/O questwellnesspod@gmail.com
Podcast is produced in collaboration with Kinoko Chocolates & Puka Puka Creative.
Episode transcripts available by request.
Be an official supporter of the podcast DONATE HERE if you are able.
On this week’s episode we’ll be talking all things mushrooms! Join us as we deep dive into the wonderful world of functional fungi and some of the amazing benefits they hold for not only our bodies, but also this planet.
Our guest this week is one of our Executive Producers, Stevie Cua (All Pronouns Accepted), who is an all around fantastic human. Stevie is also the Co-Founder of Kinoko Chocolates, a functional mushroom chocolate bar brand that is making the consumption of healthy mushrooms easy and delicious.
We will be going over our top 5 uses of mushrooms, and why incorporating these amazing fungi into your daily life will not only enrich your body, but also your soul. We hope you enjoy the episode!
WELLNESS RESOURCES:
We have all the resources mentioned on each episode right here.
HOST:
V aka Vanessa Vasquez @lovenessmonsta (All Pronouns Accepted).
THE CREW:
Executive Producers: Kori Houston (He/Them) @who_lost_grandpa & Stevie Cua (They/Them) @steviesees
Producer: Leah Jackson (She/Her) @djmsjackson
Associate Producer: Raphaella Landestoy (She/Her) @la.vida.bruja14
Music: Produced and Composed by BASK aka Eric Guizar Vasquez (He/Him)
Cover art designer: Ace Vincenzo Canzone (He/Him) @thehoodedace
CONNECT:
Follow us on Instagram @questwellnesspod
Email us your community S/O questwellnesspod@gmail.com
Podcast is produced in collaboration with Kinoko Chocolates & Puka Puka Creative.
Episode transcripts available by request.
Be an official supporter of the podcast DONATE HERE if you are able.
Radically loving our bodies is an act of rebellion, and our guest this week is living by that mindset.
Listen in as we talk to Luca Yacón, the founder of Radically Fit Oakland, the Bay Area's radical community gym rooted in fat liberation & joyful movement for all queer, trans, black and brown folks and allies, regardless of experience, size or ability.
In this episode we discuss what effects fat phobia, anti-blackness, and white supremacy can have on our self worth, and what tools we can use to begin to liberate ourselves and our bodies.
FEATURED GUEST:
Luca Yacón (They/Them) Founder/Owner Radically Fit Oakland
Luca Yacón is the founder of Radically Fit, The Bay Area's radical community gym rooted in fat liberation & joyful movement for all queer, trans, Black and brown folks and their allies, regardless of experience, size or ability. They are a Queer, Trans, Non-binary, Guatemalan adoptee living in Oakland, CA. They love to lift heavy weights, hangout with their dog Logan, rest & build community.
RADICALLY FIT GYM
IG @RadicallyFitOakland
Get a 2 week UNLIMITED pass $20 for BIPOC / $49 for Allies at radicallyfitoakland.com.
Queer & Well event on Earth Day, Sat April 22nd
WELLNESS RESOURCES DOC:
Check out the doc for all the resources listed in each episode.
HOST:
V aka Vanessa Vasquez @lovenessmonsta (All Pronouns Accepted).
THE CREW:
Executive Producers: Kori Houston (He/Them) @who_lost_grandpa & Stevie Cua (She/He/Them) @steviesees
Producer: Leah Jackson (She/Her) @djmsjackson
Associate Producer: Raphaella Landestoy (She/Her) @la.vida.bruja14
Music: Produced and Composed by BASK aka Eric Guizar Vasquez (He/Him)
Cover Art Designer: Ace Vincenzo Canzone (He/Him) @thehoodedace
CONNECT:
Follow us on Instagram @questwellnesspod
Email us your community S/O questwellnesspod@gmail.com
Podcast is produced in collaboration with Kinoko Chocolates & Puka Puka Creative.
Episode transcripts available by request.
Be an official supporter of the podcast DONATE HERE if you are able.
Happy Valentine’s Day Queer Kittens! In this episode of QUEST we bring attention to the most important expression of love there is; radical self love.
Join us as we chat with our amazing guest Kaylynn Marisol aka The Vulva Witch, a positive body image activist, sex educator and birth doula. In this episode we dive deep into Kaylynn’s journey towards radical self love and acceptance, while also learning some amazing self love practices that can aid you on your own path. We discuss the importance of healthy self-talk and recognizing how our society oppresses our worth, and how we can begin to dismantle that.
We love and support you Queer Kittens and hope that this episode will help you on your radical journey of self-love.
FEATURED GUEST:
Kaylynn Marisol (she/her) is a queer femme, wife, mama, birth doula, sex educator and positive body image advocate. I am a queer, femme, WOC, self-relationship and body-connection educator. I am on this earth to challenge the ways in which we view our bodies through a toxic, systemically oppressive lens. I am dedicated to advocating for the liberation of all bodies through accessible education, conversation and community.
WELLNESS RESOURCES:
HOST:
V aka Vanessa Vasquez @lovenessmonsta (All Pronouns Accepted).
THE CREW:
Executive Producers: Kori Houston (He/Them) @who_lost_grandpa & Stevie Cua (They/Them) @steviesees
Producer: Leah Jackson (She/Her) @djmsjackson
Associate Producer: Raphaella Landestoy (She/Her) @la.vida.bruja14
Music: Produced and Composed by BASK aka Eric Guizar Vasquez (He/Him)
Cover art designer: Ace Vincenzo Canzone (He/Him) @thehoodedace
CONNECT:
Follow us on Instagram @questwellnesspod
Email us your community S/O questwellnesspod@gmail.com
Podcast is produced in collaboration with Kinoko Chocolates & Puka Puka Creative.
Episode transcripts available by request.
Be an official supporter of our podcast DONATE HERE if you are able to.
Happy New Queer! We are recharged and ready to bring you amazing stories and resources for 2023.
In this episode, our host V and guest co-host Kori Houston (our Executive Producer) catch us up on their holiday season and discuss alternative ways of thinking about new year's resolutions that can be more kind to the mind and heart.
They also discuss the idea of "Dry January" and how alcohol use has impacted their lives and health, all while giving helpful tools and resources for those wanting to change their relationship to drinking.
WELLNESS RESOURCES:
Southern New Hampshire University Dry January Tips Article
Yahoo “Dry January, Explained” article
“What Alcohol does to your Body, Brain and Health” by Andrew Huberman Podcast
New Moon / Full Moon Prayer on Instagram
SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
SAFE Project Addiction and Mental Health Resources
Alcoholics Anonymous
Gabor Maté renowned addiction expert
“How To Change Your Mind” documentary on Netflix
Kaylynn Marisol aka The Vulva Witch
Sum Of Us Festival
HOSTS:
V aka Vanessa @lovenessmonsta (All pronouns accepted). A two-spirit human, joy influencer, energy worker and dad joke connoisseur.
THE CREW:
Executive Producers: Kori Houston (He/them) @who_lost_grandpa & Stevie Cua (They/them) @steviesees
Producer: Leah Jackson (She/her) @djmsjackson
Associate Producer: Raphaella Landestoy (She/her) @la.vida.bruja14
CONNECT:
Follow us on Instagram @questwellnesspod
Email us your community S/O questwellnesspod@gmail.com
Music produced and composed by our third amigo, BASK.
Podcast is produced in collaboration with Kinoko Chocolates & Puka Puka Creative.
Episode transcripts available by request.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, text/call 988 for free support at the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
“It's not enough to change the external environment. You must deal with changing the self-destructive processes, the inner patterns that erode the self and mental wellbeing.” - Dr. Israel Orbach (1943-2010)
On this week's episode of QUEST we continue our conversation around the more shadow aspects of the LGBTQ+ experience. Our hosts and guest will be discussing “suicide prevention / harm reduction practices” on this episode, while also going over some research / data around suicides in the LGBTQ+ community.
We get open and vulnerable with our guest Anna Richmond who is a Clinical Training, Competency Specialist and LGBTQ+ Navigator at TLC Child & Family Services. She speaks on some of her experiences serving the queer youth, while also providing evidence based treatment practices that she and the organization she works with offer. She also shares some of her own stories around mental health, and how coming out to the queer youth she serves was incredibly impactful to her wellness journey.
Anna also walks through the caring and thoughtful steps to take when reaching out to someone in crisis, what to do and what not to do.
WELLNESS RESOURCES:
LGBTQ+ Youth Resource Guide
Flare Project
Youth Acceptance Project
Community Matters
Tyler Clementi Foundation
Dr. Jill Rees, PhD “Dr. Gender”
HOSTS:
V aka Vanessa : All pronouns accepted. A two-spirit human, joy influencer, energy worker and dad joke connoisseur. Mexican/Indigenious Yaqui & Hopi Nations / Filipinx @lovenessmonsta.
Allena : AfroLatina, she/her pronouns. A cat lady queer, your empirical evidence bae and likes to keep it funky 420 @allena.thecomrade.
THE CREW:
Executive Producers: Kori Houston (He/them) @who_lost_grandpa & Stevie Cua (They/them) @steviesees
Producer: Leah Jackson (She/her) @djmsjackson
Associate Producer: Raphaella Landestoy (She/her) @la.vida.bruja14
CONNECT:
Follow us on Instagram @questwellnesspod.
Email us with thoughts and feedback questwellnesspod@gmail.com.
Music produced and composed by our third amigo, BASK.
Podcast is produced in collaboration with Kinoko Chocolates & Puka Puka Creative.
Episode transcripts available here.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, dial 988 for free support at the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
In the last few months of this podcast…we have hit the highs and the lows in our quest for wellness with you. We want to thank you for embracing all of our stories and the folks that we’ve had on the pod so far.
This month we dove deeply into suicide ideation and prevention. We know the depths of emotions that could have triggered you. We hope it hasn’t been too taxing to listen to. We have been shedding more tears than We could have imagined throughout this month
We wrap-up 2022 with V and Allena sharing their QUEST highlights and biggest learnings. Plus a bonus guest, our dear friend, Melissa; Who we met and camped with this past May at Sum Of Us Festival. She wholeheartedly shares her journey to find wellness, community, resources and most importantly her own self worth.
WELLNESS RESOURCES:
Donate to July Muñozs’ scholarship fund by going to Horizons Foundation website and add “July Muñoz Spirit Award'' in the additional information section.
Sum Of Us Festival, the first LGBTQ+ Women & Trans Identities @sumofusfest. Get your early bird tickets now!
HOSTS:
V aka Vanessa : All pronouns accepted. A two-spirit human, joy influencer, energy worker and dad joke connoisseur. Mexican/Indigenous Yaqui & Hopi Nations / Filipinx @lovenessmonsta.
Allena : AfroLatina, she/her pronouns. A cat lady queer, your empirical evidence bae and likes to keep it funky 420 @allena.thecomrade.
THE CREW:
Executive Producers: Kori Houston (He/them) @who_lost_grandpa & Stevie Cua (They/them) @steviesees
Producer: Leah Jackson (She/her) @djmsjackson
Associate Producer: Raphaella Landestoy (She/her) @la.vida.bruja14
CONNECT:
Follow us on Instagram @questwellnesspod.
Email us with thoughts and feedback questwellnesspod@gmail.com.
Music produced and composed by our third amigo, BASK.
Podcast is produced in collaboration with Kinoko Chocolates & Puka Puka Creative.
Episode transcripts available here.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, dial 988 for free support at the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
“Sometimes life's a masterpiece, you paint it in the dark” - Kolohe Kai
Here at QUEST we want our listeners to know from the bottom of our hearts that you are not alone. We strive to be a safe space and useful resource to our listeners, and hopefully help you on your journey towards radical self love.
In this episode we talk about the more shadow aspects of the human experience, and specifically how that relates to the LGBTQ+ community.
Our hosts will be discussing “suicide prevention / harm reduction practices” on this episode, while also going over some research / data around suicides in the LGBTQ+ community.
They also dive into their own personal stories around some dark and light times in their lives, but just as importantly they will go over helpful tools they have used to help them navigate these experiences in the past and present.
Listen in as Kori Houston (He/Them) shares part of his quest towards radical self acceptance. Kori is a self proclaimed goofball who’s fumbled his way through adulthood. He is Lipan Apache and grew up in a small town of 1500 in Texas. He’s a traveler of space and time through his psychedelic journeys. He’s been a cultivator and student of plants and fungus. Kori is also a gogo dancer in the queer and trans community, He is a ray of sunshine in our community. A co-founder of Kinoko chocolates where he makes functional mushroom chocolates, and a producer of this podcast. He’s a guy who’s really trail-blazed his path.
WELLNESS RESOURCES:
Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg
Niko Storment, Producer of Rosen Creative House
The Trevor Project
SF LGBT Center
Larkin Street Youth Program
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call or Text 988
#BeThe1To (For more guidance on steps you can take to help someone thinking of suicide)
Disaster Distress Helpline Call or Text 1-800-985-5990 (ASL Now)
Although the holiday season has arrived, we believe that re-indigenizing your life is a all-year long practice. We wanted to spend this episode shining a light on our indigenous communities fighting every day to regain sovereignty, and take a look at what indigenous joy looks like.
We chat with Two-Spirit community leaders, Victoria/Victor, Batul True Heart, and Kenta while at the Indigenous Red Market in Oakland to find out what wellness means to them and how indigenous and non-indigenous folks can incorporate traditional practices in their own lives.
We hope to honor those that historically have not had a voice, while also bringing you information and tools to both de-colonizing and re-indigenizing your life. Hope you enjoy!
OUR GUESTS:
Kenta @kenta.chumil (all pronouns except He/Him)
Victoria/Victor @creative_mudafukah (They/Them but All are Welcome), Shuumi Land Trust @sogoreatelandtrust
Batul True Heart @maasomedicina (They/Them/Aapo) Maaso Medicina Store
On the third stop of our QUEST we dive into “Play” and why it should be incorporated into our wellness practices. We explore different methods of play with our guests and co-hosts; from having an adventurous spirit, to incorporating art into your daily life. Our guests discuss some of their play methods; like creating sound healing in and out of the nightclub and even performing comedy. But as our host Allena points out, it can be as simple as playing Mario Kart with your friends!
We chat with the high-spirited comedian and actress Jacq The Stripper at the Sum Of Us Festival and DJ CLA, a badass international DJ and sound healer. Listen in to hear how they’ve both incorporated play into their lives!
OUR GUESTS:
Jacq The Stripper @jacqthestripper is a serious artist. Author of irreverent titles like The Beaver Show, Striptastic and Divorce Illustrated. She is free, expensive and does not currently have a fixed address.
DJ CLA @djcla plays for some of the top-grossing nightclubs on the Las Vegas strip. Her high energy sets energize crowds locally, nationally and internationally, from Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, New York, Boston, New Orleans, Chicago, Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas. There’s no place C.L.A. would rather be than behind two turntables and a mixer, she happily calls her “office.”
WELLNESS RESOURCES:
Chani Nicholas
Abraham Hicks
Lousie Hay
Dr. Wayne Dyer
Jay Sheti
Lewis Howes
Aubrey Marcus
Insight Timer
Dr. Masaru Emoto
OUR HOSTS:
V aka Vanessa : All pronouns accepted. A two-spirit human, joy influencer, energy worker and dad joke connoisseur. Mexican/Indigenious Yaqui & Hopi Nation / Filipinx @lovenessmonsta.
Allena : AfroLatina, she/her pronouns. A cat lady queer, your empirical evidence bae and likes to keep it funky 420 @allena.thecomrade.
THE CREW:
Executive Producers: Kori Houston (He/them) @who_lost_grandpa & Stevie Cua (They/them) @steviesees
Producer: Leah Jackson (She/her) @djmsjackson
Associate Producer: Raphaella Landestoy (She/her) @la.vida.bruja14
CONNECT:
Follow us on Instagram @questwellnesspod.
Email us with thoughts and feedback questwellnesspod@gmail.com.
Music produced and composed by our third amigo, BASK.
Podcast is produced in collaboration with Kinoko Chocolates & Puka Puka Creative. Episode transcripts available here.
On the second stop of our QUEST: Part 2 of “Community Is The Cure”, we journey bravely towards the question; how does community mold our sense of self, and what ways can it positively impact our well-being?
Listen in to our intimate firechats at last spring’s Sum Of Us Festival with DJ Olga T (All pronouns accepted); a Bay Area based DJ and Queer event coordinator for over 20 years and Kenj (They/She); a non-binary inclusive strength coach and founder of CAMP (Creating Affirmative Movement Practices). In this episode you’ll hear open and real conversations around our guest’s paths to wellness, how community can transform and save lives, and how transitioning helped them both find their power and sense of peace.
We hope this podcast brings you joy where you’ll learn, laugh, heal + grow.
DJ Olga T (All pronouns accepted) @djolgat
A Puerto Rican lover of all things music, dogs, community and human connection through the language of rhythm and beats, born in NYC and raised in San Francisco, Olga T has an exceptional style of DJing that never fails to grab your attention on the dance floor. Known for masterfully transitioning through nearly every genre of music and often creatively implementing both analog & digital gear when spinning, Olga T consistently delivers a uniquely infectious excitement to the audience. DJing for the past 20 years while producing legendary Bay Area events year-round in addition to teaching DJ classes, creating exclusive remixes, edits and mixtapes is Olga T’s full time passion. Go to www.soundcloud.com/djolgat to explore, take a listen and download a plethora of mixtapes of various music genres created by DJ Olga T.
Kenj (They/she) @thecoachkenj
Kenj is a non-binary inclusive strength coach and founder of CAMP (Creating Affirmative Movement Practices). With meaningful dialogue and good laughs they strive to help people in all bodies improve their relationship with movement. Ultimately she is helping create a world in which we challenge the harmful structures that limit our ability to experience movement as an activity that fulfills our physical, mental, and social health by queering fitness.
OUR HOSTS:
V aka Vanessa : All pronouns accepted. A two-spirit human, joy influencer, energy worker and dad joke connoisseur. Mexican/Indigenious Yaqui & Hopi Nation / Filipinx @lovenessmonsta.
Allena : AfroLatina, she/her pronouns. A cat lady queer, your empirical evidence bae and likes to keep it funky 420. @allena.thecomrade.
THE CREW:
Executive Producers: Kori Houston (He/them) @who_lost_grandpa and Stevie Cua (They/them) @steviesees
Producer: Leah Jackson (She/her) @djmsjackson
Associate Producer: Raphaella Landestoy (She/her) @la.vida.bruja14
On the first stop of our QUEST, we dive into what wellness really means to our hosts V and Allena along with our guest Madison Eker (She/Her) the Founder and CEO of Sum Of Us Festival; the first wellness festival for LGBTQ+ women and all trans identities that takes place yearly in California. We break down some common life themes that positively and negatively impact our health and well-being, and discuss how community can be a powerful positive impact for us individually and collectively.
Get cozy as Madison shares candidly what wellness means to her, the practices that have benefited her, and what it took to get the Sum Of Us Festival off the ground.
If you enjoyed Part 1 of “Community is the Cure”, listen in to Part 2 where we continue the journey with incredible guests: DJ Olga T (All pronouns accepted); a Bay Area based DJ and Queer event coordinator for over 20 years and Kenj (They/She); a non-binary inclusive strength coach and founder of CAMP (Creating Affirmative Movement Practices).
We hope this podcast brings you joy; where you’ll learn, laugh, heal + grow.
Madison Eker (She/her) @madisoneker @sumofusfest
Madison is a trailblazer in the LGBTQ+ wellness industry. She is the visionary and CEO behind Sum of Us Festival and Sum of Us Co; the Leading Producers of Socially Conscious Seminars in North America. Madison was also the writer for the wellness column in Pride Magazine, and in 2021 was named AI's Most Influential Business Woman of the Year. She has spoken at the Consolidated Association of Prides 2020 and 2022, HER Pride Online 2020, and has been featured on several panels and magazines. Madison is revolutionizing how wellness manifests within our community by bringing diversity and inclusivity to the forefront.
OUR HOSTS:
V aka Vanessa : All pronouns accepted. A two-spirit human, joy influencer, energy worker and dad joke connoisseur. Mexican/Indigenious Yaqui & Hopi Nation / Filipinx @lovenessmonsta.
Allena : AfroLatina, she/her pronouns. A cat lady queer, your empirical evidence bae and likes to keep it funky 420. @allena.thecomrade.
THE CREW:
Executive Producers: Kori Houston (He/them) @who_lost_grandpa and Stevie Cua (They/them) @steviesees
Producer: Leah Jackson (She/her) @djmsjackson
Associate Producer: Raphaella Landestoy (She/her) @la.vida.bruja14
CONNECT:
Follow us on Instagram @questwellnesspod.
Email us with thoughts and feedback questwellnesspod@gmail.com.
Music produced and composed by our third amigo, BASK.
Podcast is produced in collaboration with Kinoko Chocolates and Puka Puka Creative.
Hey Queer Kittens and Allies! Listen in as our hosts Allena and V guide the QUEST to discover what wellness means. You will hear inspiring stories from people in our community along their own personal QUEST for wellness.
QUEST:
Q = Queers sharing wellness experiences
U = Understanding, understanding the past, present and future and how that impacts our well
E = Education, the source evidence and resources behind the truth
S = Storytelling, powerful and courageous stories from our community leaders
T = Transformation because self-discovery and care is a lifelong journey
OUR HOSTS:
V aka Vanessa : All pronouns accepted. A two-spirit human, joy influencer, energy worker and dad joke connoisseur. Mexican/Indigenious Yaqui & Hopi Nation / Filipinx @lovenessmonsta.
Allena : AfroLatina, she/her pronouns. A cat lady queer, your empirical evidence bae and likes to keep it funky 420. @allena.thecomrade.
OUR TEAM:
Executive Producers: Kori Houston @who_lost_grandpa and Stevie Cua @steviesees
Producer: Leah Jackson @djmsjackson
Associate Producer: Raphaella Landestoy @la.vida.bruja14
CONTACT:
Follow us on Instagram @questwellnesspod
Email us with thoughts and feedback questwellnesspod@gmail.com.
Music produced and composed by BASK.
Podcast produced in collaboration with Kinoko Chocolates and Puka Puka Creative.