For May, Sexual Violence Prevention Month, DWS will be posting more info about sexual violence, prevention, and consent.

by Annie Kierans

Spring has officially sprung this week in Dawson City, with the siren’s blast and the promenade of ice floes signalling the break up of the Yukon River. The pussy willows have gone to seed, the cottonwood buds are opening up, the furry croci perch magnificently on the bluff, peachy hues fill the sky at midnight, and the reservoir of frozen dog poop is finally getting its time in the sun. As are we - albeit, at a distance from one another.Winter was cold and longer than usual with Thaw Di Gras festivities in mid-March dialed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our hunkering down was extended as we followed suit with the rest of the country and much of the world in adhering to physical distancing measures. It’s been tough at times. As we enter the 9th week of the pandemic, we hear of mass death, illness, loss, and heartbreak. And while the sunshine and warmth are sure to soothe, we must still channel some resilience through this extraordinary challenge. Just like the perennials that burst to life after a long slumber, we thrive and blossom despite adversity!

We look to the springtime buds for lessons in resilience and present this first installment of podcast recommendations based on calling upon our inner strength and resources.

Podcasts. What?

First of all, for those of you who aren’t familiar, podcasts are audio programs just like talk radio except you can listen to the shows anytime on your smartphone or computer! A podcast usually covers a certain theme and then releases a series of episodes on that theme.

Podcasts. How?

To listen on your smartphone:

Go to the app store and download Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or any other application you can listen to podcasts on - the list goes on!

To listen on your computer:

You can search for the title of the podcast in your preferred search engine (Google, Yahoo, etc.) and listen on the website. Or simply read on and click on the links to whichever podcasts interest you. You do not need to download the episode in advance - it is possible to stream the episode (as in, play it immediately) at your convenience when connected to wifi or cellular data.

And voila! You’re ready to listen.

Recommending Podding

Without further ado, here are a few podcasts I really enjoy:

Call Your Girlfriend (aka CYG) – hilarious, woke, easy-listening banter between two best friends Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman. They chat long-distance over the phone about pop culture, politics, menstrual cycles, books, feelings, and more. Their slogan "See you on the internet." is all the more applicable nowadays. Their most recent episode on resiliency is certainly on-theme!

Ear Hustle – voices from the inside at San Quentin State Prison, co-hosted by former inmate Earlonne Woods and visual artist Nigel Poor. While some of us have felt squirrelly spending more time at home than usual, centering the voices of those permanently on lockdown can give us some perspective. Their accounts also illuminate their strength and endurance living while imprisoned and their ability to make the most of their limitations, while not downplaying their struggles. A true gift.

I Hear You - a podcast produced out of my hometown (Halifax, NS) about "[b]reaking down the taboos of women’s sexual health. Each episode of the I Hear You podcast is a discussion among our host Bryde MacLean (Turn Me On podcast) sexual health experts, advocates, and women. We have created a safe space for honest discussion to address women's concerns." Topics include gynecology, chronic pain, reproductive mental health and the pelvic (dance)floor, as I like to call it. It is a spinoff of the dramatic web-series of the same name. In a time where our bodily functions come to the fore, we are reminded simultaneously of our mortality and our ability to heal and regenerate.

Code Switch – a show covering au courant events regarding the subject of race, hosted by journalists of colour. If anyone can offer a lesson in resilience, it’s those who experience systemic racism on the daily.

Check out their half hour Q&A about race and the coronavirus.

Home Cooking – A four-part series. Taking good care of ourselves is important always, but especially during a time of heightened uncertainty where we need a little extra comfort (food). Samin Nosrat (author of hit cookbook Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat) and Hrishikesh Hirway (producer of numerous other podcasts including Song Exploder) provide simple, no-frill cooking tips and tricks. Bubbling with contagious laughter and peppered with puns, this Q and A podcast will have you ready to reach into the depths of your pantry at-long-last. We don’t need to eat nails for breakfast to be tough as heck.

I hope everyone is getting some fresh air and sun on their skin after one loooong winter. Please feel free to let us know if you have any feedback on the podcasts mentioned, or if you have any to recommend

DWS is here for you. Our support line is available 24/7. Call us at (867) 993-5086.

Annie Kierans is a visual artist, film-maker and support worker based out of Dawson City.

May is Sexual Violence Prevention Month

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