Podcast
Queers and Co.
Hosted by Gem Kennedy · EN
Welcome to the Queers and Co. Podcast with facilitator, coach and speaker, Gem Kennedy (they/them). Each episode of the latest series poses the compelling question, “What happens when…” and delves into topics such as anxiety, AuDHD, gender identity, and beyond. Gem takes centre stage this series, sharing personal insights and reflections after a particularly difficult time in which it felt more important than ever for them to focus on living in alignment with the truest expression of themselves.
If you’ve not listened before, be sure to check out the previous two series in which Gem has thought-provoking conversations with queer folks and allies who are at the forefront of change-making in areas such as fat activism, sex positivity, drag/cabaret, LGBTQ+ activism and children’s rights.
Find out more about Gem's work: www.gemkennedy.com
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
ROB.GREEN - Stepping Off the Yellow Brick Road
Dec 1201:05:46Tap to summarizeIn this episode, ROB.GREEN joins Gem for a conversation filled with wisdom, love and an incredibly moving cow story. Rob shares his journey as an independent artist, moving from chasing the traditional music industry "artist's fairy tale" to building a thriving career on his own terms. Together, they explore the power of stepping off prescribed paths, the intersection and queerness and spirituality, and the importance of DIY culture in creating the spaces we need outside of the mainstream. Rob opens up about how love and community drive his work and his realisation that artists, artwork and audience are all you really need to make meaningful art. If you've ever wondered whether there's a different way to achieve what you're working on, this episode is for you!ROB.GREEN is a self-described spreader of love and independent alt-soul/pop artist from Nottingham who draws from Soul, Gospel and Rock music to create captivating performances. Rob channels his experiences growing up mixed-race and gay to write songs that unite and connect with audiences. Rob embodies the ethos of a self-made artist building a thriving career on his own terms.Find out more about ROB.GREENSubscribe to ROB.GREEN's mailing list hereFollow Rob on Instagram hereOfficialEverGreens Instagram hereAnd don't forget to listen to Rob's music wherever you get your music!Big Magic by Liz Gilbert was the book Rob recommended
Transcribe →Dr Charlotte Cooper - Bold Conversations
Sep 100:44:04Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Charlotte joins Gem to discuss her new book, Fat Body Work, an autoethnography that explores her relationship with, and development of, a movement practice. Together, they discuss the profound effects of fatphobia on their ability to access movement and emphasise the importance of DIY culture as a form of self-expression and a way to preserve personal histories. Charlotte shares thoughtful insights, along with the bold choices and perspectives that have shaped her path as a psychotherapist and activist.Dr Charlotte Cooper (she/her) is a psychotherapist working in East London. Her scholarship concerning fat liberation is influential and she is the author of Fat Activism: A Radical Social Movement. Charlotte is also a queer cultural worker influenced by DIY ethics and performs as Homosexual Death Drive. Find out more at www.charlottecooper.net
Transcribe →Adam Holcroft-Tebbutt - Bold Conversations
Sep 100:46:04Tap to summarizeJoin Gem and Adam as they chat about the challenging times Trans and Autistic communities are currently facing. They discuss how fashion can be a powerful tool for activism, the benefits of working for ourselves as Autistics, and the importance of finding community. Plus lots more! Adam Holcroft-Tebbutt (he/him) is a Trans and Autistic activist, designer, and founder of Rainbow & Co – an independent LGBTQIA+ brand based in West Yorkshire. Through bold, politically charged designs, Adam uses his platform to amplify queer voices, challenge rainbow-washing, and create space for marginalised identities.Where can you find Adam?Rainbow & Co - https://rainbowandco.ukInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/rainbowandcouk/
Transcribe →Arlo West - Bold Conversations
Sep 100:46:00Tap to summarizeGem and Arlo talk about navigating the current climate as trans and neurodivergent folk, the importance of community and solidarity, and how inclusivity should be the default in all spaces because it benefits everyone. They chat about how the business world often gatekeeps knowledge, Arlo's openness to sharing their experience to support other self-employed creatives, and how much better the world would be if we all acted more like Paddington. Plus lots more!Arlo West (they/them) is a freelance graphic designer and founder of Studio Arlo, where they offer sh*t hot branding and web design to queer, trans and neurodivergent individuals and small businesses. They are also a Director of Trans Pride Manchester and the founder of Not Your Business, a community for queer, trans and neurodivergent creative freelancers.If you'd like to experience more Arlo in your life:Studio Arlo - https://www.studioarlo.co.uk/Not Your Business - https://notyourbusiness.co.uk/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/studioarlo.png/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@studioarlo.pngLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/studioarlo/
Transcribe →H Arlo-Harris - Bold Conversations
Sep 100:57:22Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Gem and H talk about what it really means to live your truth and stay authentic (a word they both feel is over-used) even when it’s tough. They dive into the importance of learning to trust yourself, stay grounded during conflict, and the power of making bold choices every day. There's an important reminder from H that marginalised folks can and do marginalise folks. Plus a whole bunch more!H Arlo-Harris (they/them) is a coach who helps people to recognise the power of owning their identity. H uses their own experiences as an Autistic, Trans masc non-binary, black person to share how stepping into your identity skyrockets your business and personal life.Here's where you can connect with H: Instagram: www.instagram.com/h.arloharris
Transcribe →Ep. 6 What Happens When... You Learn to Trust Yourself?
Nov 1, 202400:30:10Tap to summarizeJoin Gem for the final episode of the series, "What Happens When... You Learn to Trust Yourself?". After visiting a Scottish castle, Gem reflects on the looming presence of oppressive systems and the work to deconstruct the ways we've internalised them. They share their experience of re-learning to trust themselves and how deepening their understanding of things like patriarchy, colonialism, children's rights, body liberation and queerness have been and continue to be vital in that process. Thank you so much for listening! I'd love it if you'd consider sharing and reviewing this podcast!Find out more about me and my work at www.gemkennedy.com and @thegemkennedy in all the usual places.Helpful links: For more conversation on these themes, check out my interviews with Sophie Christophy, Adele Jarrett-Kerr, Artemis D. Bear and Dr. Charlotte Cooper on previous episodes of Queers and Co. Sophie Christophy: https://www.facebook.com/schristophyAkilah S. Richards: https://raisingfreepeople.com/ The Body is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee TaylorFat Activism: A Radical Social Movement by Dr. Charlotte Cooper
Transcribe →Ep. 5 What Happens When... Anxiety
Oct 25, 202400:25:16Tap to summarizeJoin Gem for this episode, "What Happens When... Anxiety?". Whilst going through a particularly bad breakup, Gem realised they experienced incredibly high levels of anxiety most of the time. Gem reflects on what has helped them (mostly) cope better with anxiety, including the impact of sensory regulation and exercise and understanding monotropism. They also talk about the grief that can come along with realising anxiety as an Autistic person might just be here to stay and detecting those sneaky default worries that pop up when the coast is clear.Thank you so much for listening! I'd love it if you'd consider sharing and reviewing this podcast!Find out more about me and my work at www.gemkennedy.com and @thegemkennedy in all the usual places.Helpful links: Monotropism: https://monotropism.org/Some great books on sensory and emotional self-care for Autistics: The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills by Sonny Jane Wise Looking After Your Autistic Self: A Personalised Self-Care Approach to Managing Your Sensory and Emotional Well-Being by Niamh GarveySelf-Care for Autistic People: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Unmask! by Megan Anna Neff
Transcribe →Ep. 4 What Happens When... You're Genderslime?
Oct 19, 202400:39:00Tap to summarizeJoin Gem for this episode, "What Happens When... You're Genderslime". After a spiritual counselling session including a poem by Hafiz, Gem reflects on their exploration of gender so far and why the term genderslime feels like the most accurate way to describe how they feel. Gem talks about the intersection of gender and Autism, being perceived and the importance of being seen and affirmed in our identity. Thank you so much for listening! I'd love it if you'd consider sharing and reviewing this podcast!Find out more about me and my work at www.gemkennedy.com and @thegemkennedy in all the usual places.Helpful links: "How Does it Feel to be a Heart?" by Hafiz can be found in I Heard God Laughing: Poems of Hope and Joy by Rebel Dykes: https://www.rebeldykeshistoryproject.com/Inspiring Women Changemakers: https://www.inspiringwomenchangemakers.co.uk/ Bear Hebert episode: https://www.gemkennedy.com/podcast/23Neuroqueer Heresies by Dr Nick Walker: https://neuroqueer.com/neuroqueer-heresies/Autigender: https://neurodivergentrebel.com/2021/01/06/what-is-autigender-the-relationship-between-autism-gender-an-autistic-perspective/
Transcribe →Ep. 3 What Happens When... You Find Out You're Autistic?
Oct 12, 202400:36:18Tap to summarizeJoin Gem for this episode, "What Happens When... You Find Out You're Autistic?" In this episode, Gem talks about learning about Autism whilst a family member was in severe Autistic burnout and having brainwaves about how neurodivergence shows up their family. Whilst walking along a disused railway in Scotland, Gem also shares their own process of considering formal- versus self-identification, the pressure to unmask and the liberation of living in alignment with our neurotype. Thank you so much for listening! I'd love it if you'd consider sharing and reviewing this podcast!Find out more about me and my work at www.gemkennedy.com and @thegemkennedy in all the usual places.Helpful links: Autistic burnout: https://www.autisticadvocate.co.uk/autistic-burnoutAn excellent book on sensory well-being: Looking After Your Autistic Self: A Personalised Self-Care Approach to Managing Your Sensory and Emotional Well-being by Niamh GarveyNeurodiversity Paradigm: https://neuroqueer.com/neurodiversity-terms-and-definitions/Kieran Rose: https://theautisticadvocate.com/The Social Model of Disability: https://www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/about-us/disability-in-london/social-model/the-social-model-of-disability-and-the-cultural-model-of-deafness/Autistic Masking: https://theautisticadvocate.com/autistic-masking/Thriving Autistic - 6 week Discovery Programme for late-identified Autistics(written by Gem) and monthly socials: https://www.thrivingautistic.org/
Transcribe →Ep. 2 What Happens When... You're in the Shit Dad Club?
Oct 7, 202400:32:42Tap to summarizeJoin Gem for this episode, "What Happens When... You're in the Shit Dad Club?"Gem talks about something that heavily contributed to their cPTSD flare-up earlier this year. Whilst walking along the banks of the River Tweed, Gem describes what it's like being the child of a terrible dad and therefore a member of the Shit Dad Club, the culture of silence and shame that can exist in families and growing up as an unidentified neurodivergent child who refuses school and experiences bullying.Thank you so much for listening! I'd love it if you'd consider sharing and reviewing this podcast!Find out more about me and my work at www.gemkennedy.com and @thegemkennedy in all the usual places.
Transcribe →