Is it you or capitalism/white supremacy/the patriarchy?
A couple days ago, I posted this example of a shadow map I made while creating the upcoming Workshop Incubator course for Broad Room.
At this point I am feeling a general lack of motivation, perpetual tiredness, feeling like nothing really matters, and creatively uninspired…
None of this is abnormal when we are half a year into a global pandemic, but layer in the climate crisis (the historic heatwave and fire season California has been experiencing) as well as the shooting of Jacob Blake by racist cops, and it quickly becomes too much to handle the pressures of regular life.
Honestly, I am struggling to write this out. I want to be inspired, creative, and excited — but that’s more than I can handle right now.
That being said, the ability to rest + take time for self-care is a privilege. So, I am continuing to do/give what I can to folks (primarily through mutual aid) that aligns with my values.
Here are a couple places I’ve given $$ in the last week if you are looking for inspiration:
Direct Action for Farmworkers — they currently need supplies and cash to support undocumented farmworkers who are continuing to labor during the dangerous weather/smoke/fire conditions. You can Venmo @DirectAction.
Sacramento Neighbor — they’ve been providing food, supplies, and water to unhoused folks in Sacramento. They are a community organization committed to mutual aid. You can Venmo @SacNeighborProgram.
Here are some resources I’ve been using this week to deepen my own education, unlearning, and dismantling capitalist/white supremacist/ patriarchal thinking:
Kumbaya Confessional podcast — I don’t know about you, but a couple “wellness/spiritual influencers/coach” accounts I (un)followed on Instagram were giving me a twinge in the pit of my stomach for a year or so. Then that twinge blossomed into a full on unfollow, unsubscribe, and retracting old endorsements spree prompted by their handling of the anti-racism uprising after the murder of George Floyd. Then came the strange alignment of some in the “woo-sphere” (as the host of this pod calls it) to pro-Trump, alt-right conspiracy theories. Anyway, Katya Wiess-Andersson provides a very smart and deep dive into all of the contradictions, dangerous claims, and cult-y vibes of the wellness world today.
Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture — If you’ve ever had a job in America, you will probably recognize every single thing on this list. I’ve been referring back to this list often as I have struggled to be “productive” over the last week. It’s a reminder that productivity, perfectionism, a sense of urgency, and so much more is a part of white supremacist/capitalist culture. It also offers antidotes to these characteristics to build a different kind of organization, which has been instrumental in my own unlearning process.
Workshop Announcement
Have an inkling you’d like to host a podcast? Johnny Flores has got you! This workshop will teach you ways to remotely record your podcast during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you have a podcast, or want to start one, this workshop will give guidance on the best techniques for remotely recording your podcast. The workshop will give examples of how remote recording works, best options for remote recording, ways to capture the best audio for guests, and recording from home or an office.
The workshop is hosted by Johnny Flores, owner of Flores Podcast Consulting. Johnny taught an over sold-out workshop at Broad Room earlier this year! He is experienced, talented, and very thoughtful in helping his students figure out how to bring their podcast to life!