Hello Bello!

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When I told Brittany Jezouit, creator of the Podcast Broadcast, that I had been accepted into AIR Media's summer 2016 Full Spectrum Intensive Storytelling Workshop, she expressed her excitement for me. And then she asked if I wanted to do a write-up about the workshop for a new project of hers. 

That write-up is now up, as is her new project, The Bello Collective, which she founded with Dana Gerber-Margie, behind The Audio Signal - another great newsletter about podcasts that I was also a subscriber to.

I say 'was' because the newsletter is no longer active - same with Podcast Broadcast. The book has closed on them both, with the new chapter being The Bello Collective. 

Read my piece here!

Love, Canberra on Friday Night Lip Service

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Friday Night Lip Service is a rad show on the Canberra community radio station 2XXfm that's presented by a group of queer Canberran women. One of their presenters just so happens to be Daria, whom I interviewed in Episode Six - Asexual. 

Daria was very kind to make mention to Love, Canberra generally and the episode she was on specifically. You can hear all the lovely things she said about the show here (from 45:20).

Love, Canberra on the Filmspotting podcast

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When I took Anthropology at university, I studied the text Nisa: The Life and Words of a !Kung Woman.

I learned that '!' denoted the sharp clucking sound Nisa and members of her tribe made, which was a feature of their language system. 

On this occasion, many exclamation points would be appropriate, although they would have no relevance to the !Kung tribe's vocalisations. Instead, the many exclamation points I'd want to use in this post but won't (because it would be tacky and unprofessional) would symbolise my utter joy and excitement. 

Ah, what the hell.

Filmspotting mentioned Love, Canberra in the latest episode of their podcast!!!!!! That's Episode #577: Knight of Cups / FS Madness / May Marathon #3 - Mikey and Nicky!!!!!

The back story to this is, having been a listener of Filmspotting for the past year or so, I was well aware that Filmspotting is sponsored by Squarespace. In being so, Adam and Josh are in the habit of giving sites created using Squarespace a plug. So I wrote in, told them about the short-lived film podcast a friend and I did that had been inspired by Filmspotting, and said that I would be extremely grateful if they could give Love, Canberra a shoutout - because I've used Squarespace to create the website.

And they did.

And I noticed a massive spike in my listenership.

The power of podcast sponsorship!

xo

Love, Canberra in Podcast Broadcast newsletter

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Totally thrilled: Love, Canberra was mentioned not once, but twice in the first Australian edition of Brittany Jezouit's Podcast Broadcast newsletter! (n.b. Podcast Broadcast is now the Bello Collective so PB links no longer work)

Radio producer and founder of the Audiocraft festival Kate Montague said these lovely words about the podcast in her interview with Brittany:

And Love, Canberra was featured in Brittany's Top 15 list of best Australian audio storytelling:

In some seriously stellar company there!

Topic suggestion #1

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Listener Mark writes:

I have met business partners, who are a couple, and own an escort agency. During busy times or a shortfall in the roster, the female partner services clients. Which brings me to what must be a core sex and relationships topic - How does being involved in Canberra's Sex industry affect the relationships of sex workers?

Particular questions are: Does being a sex worker make being in a relationship impossibly difficult; If not, is it better to be open or discreet about work with a partner; Is jealously a problem and are there other particular relationship stressors in the circumstances; How difficult is it to transition from work mode to intimacy with a partner;  Generally, are sex-workers' jobs kept secret from family and friends due to a fear of judgement; and, if so, what are the personal stress of a 'secret' life; etc.? 

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If you are or know of a sex worker who would be interested in discussing with me what Mark has mentioned above, and other relevant subjects, do drop me a line x

Valentine's Day recommendations

To fall in love with anyone, do this - The Modern Times column in the New York Times that got everyone talking about the 36 questions two people asked each other that saw them fall in love.

Starlee Kine, "Dr Phil" - The most memorable, relatable story about getting over a break-up you'll ever listen to. Aired on This American Life.

What love means after ten years of marriage - beyond the chocolates and the flowers and the butterflies in one's tummy. Essay in NY Mag. 

Love in the Digital Age - Tom Ashbrook explores romance, sex and expectations in this episode of WBUR's On Point.

Anomalisa (2016) - In the way that jazz can soothe a hurting heart, Anomalisa will speak to those who feel deeply alone. Trailer here.

Questions about Orgasmic Meditation (Ep1)

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Mark from Canberra emailed me with some questions after listening to the first episode of Love, Canberra. I replied on the basis of what I've learned in talking to Smita and Si and doing my own research about OM.

Mark was happy for me to share his questions on here. He wrote:

If I may I'd like to ask a couple of questions which came to mind when listening to your podcast. 

Is the use of latex gloves by the stroker meant to provide a level of physical, and so psychological and emotional, separation between stroker and strokee?

Is the stroker always male? As OM seems to be 'transactional' from stroker to recipient, thus not a sexual experience between a couple, could two females be involved? Or, in a patriarchal society, is a male stroker being devoted to an OM recipient's state part of reaching that state? 

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Thanks for your questions, Mark - and thanks for listening!