Podcast Summary: Can I Walk With You?

Episode: I change my name every 25 years. Today it’s A Fluffy Bunny
Host: Thoraya
Date: September 4, 2025
Location: New York City

Overview

Season one of Can I Walk With You? kicks off in New York City, known for its vibrant streets and eclectic residents. In this episode, Thoraya has a chance encounter with a unique individual who legally changes their name every 25 years. The conversation meanders through stories of identity, family heritage, the joy of making people laugh, and reflections on living in the East Village. The playful and candid exchange provides insight into how a name can shape both personal history and the world around us.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The 25-Year Name Change Cycle

• Introduction to A Fluffy Bunny: The guest reveals that their legal name is currently “A Fluffy Bunny.”
  • “My legal name is a Fluffy Bunny.” (01:10, B)
• Name Progression:
  • Previous names include “Ames Michael Montgomery” (25 years) and “James Michael Montgomery” (the first 25 years of their life).
  • The guest declines to reveal the next name, keeping it a secret until the next transition.
    • “No, I’m not going to divulge what the next one’s going to be, because first I got to get there.” (01:49, B)

Origins and Meaning of Names

• Motivation to Change Names:
  • Dislike for the original family name (James) due to unoriginality and being named after someone they didn’t admire.
    • “I didn’t particularly like the grandfather I was named after. So at 25, I said, you know, I’m just going to change it.” (02:54, B)
• Process of Name Change:
  • Used a feminist resource booklet in Portland, Oregon, to legally change the name to Ames.
  • The new name “Ames” (derived from amicus, Latin for “friend”) was chosen somewhat randomly:
    • “This little ticker tape went across my brain. It said, lose the J…So I changed my name and it became Ames.” (03:09–04:28, B)
• Name Meanings and Serendipity:
  • Only after the change did they realize the positive meanings in their new names.
    • “You obey your inner voice sometimes and it works… It seems to have worked out thus far.” (08:34, B)

Becoming A Fluffy Bunny

• During a career as a graphic artist and typesetter, the guest would sign tongue-in-cheek notes with a drawing of a wild-eyed rabbit and the signature, “A Fluffy Bunny, the most evil creature on earth.”
  • That humor and chaos inspired the current legal name.
    • “That’s what I decided I would become. A fluffy bunny, the most evil creature on earth.” (06:00, B)
• Impact of the Name:
  • Personal anecdotes of making people laugh, including patients at work and security staff.
  • “I had this woman with brain cancer… She looked at my ID card… and said, ‘Hey, fluffy bunny.’” (06:24, B)
  • The name means different things in various cultures, such as Wiccan slang for someone who doesn’t take rituals seriously—a fact discovered after the change.
    • “Evidently, a fluffy bunny is someone in Wiccan parlance who does not take the ritual seriously.” (07:38, B)

Philosophy & Approach to Life

• Embracing laughter, chaos, and authenticity:
  • “It’s a short life to take things seriously, you know?” (07:48, B)
• Choosing names and life paths based on inner prompts and the desire for genuine connection:
  • “It worked out so well. It was just…” (08:14, B)

Life in New York

• Originally from Kentucky, moved to New York in 1982.
• Long-time resident of the East Village, observing the neighborhood's tendency to keep people anchored (with a nod to affordable rent).
  • “If you get a place and you can afford it, it’s sort of like, ‘Oh, I better not ever move.’” (09:27, B)

Movie Date & Chaos as a Lifestyle

• Ends the walk headed to a surprise movie night at a favorite theater, emphasizing a love of unpredictability:
  • “You might have guessed I like a little chaos in my life.” (10:10, B)

Memorable Quotes

• “My legal name is a Fluffy Bunny.” (01:10, B)
• “Names have meaning…James is a variant of Jacob…it sort of means ‘one who overthrows by catching at one’s heel.’ So, winning by sneakiness, I guess.” (02:17, B)
• “Lose one letter, change your name.” (04:39, B)
• “That’s what I decided I would become. A fluffy bunny, the most evil creature on earth.” (06:00, B)
• “It’s a short life to take things seriously, you know?” (07:48, B)
• “Yeah, the rent. If you get a place and you can afford it…it’s sort of like, ‘Oh, I better not ever move.’” (09:27, B)
• “You might have guessed I like a little chaos in my life.” (10:10, B)

Notable Moments & Timestamps

• [01:10] – The revelation of the legal name “A Fluffy Bunny.”
• [02:09] – Reflection on family names and the meaning of “James.”
• [03:09–04:28] – The story of changing the name to Ames and the process in Portland.
• [05:26–06:00] – How the inside joke “A fluffy bunny, the most evil creature on earth” became a legal identity.
• [06:24–07:38] – Stories of spreading laughter and Wiccan meaning of the name.
• [08:14–08:34] – The positive life impact and serendipity of name choices.
• [09:01–09:27] – Moving to New York and the East Village lifestyle.
• [10:10] – Preference for chaos and unpredictable adventures.

Tone & Style

The episode is marked by a blend of humor, warmth, and self-reflection. The guest’s candidness invites the listener into a life philosophy that values laughter, adaptation, and authenticity. Thoraya’s gentle, curious interviewing style allows the story to unfold organically against the ever-changing urban backdrop.

Conclusion

This inaugural episode of Can I Walk With You? captures the spirit of New York City’s streets and the stories waiting to be discovered. Through a whimsical, profound dialogue about names and identity, listeners are encouraged to consider how even small choices can bring surprising meaning and connection to our lives.