Queer Coco

I finally got the chance to have an in depth chat with one of the girlies, @rocky_9489. Rocky Talatonu is an Event Co-Ordinator and Creative Director (and a lot of the things, the girl's CV is long, as you'll find out in the video). We spoke about his career, toxic relationships with straight men and just had an all round good kiki --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

I had the pleasure of interviewing one of my closest friends, Shannon JJ Williams aka Hair God. Shannon is a Hair Stylist, Creative Director, Make Up Artist and Content Creator that has worked with Australian Royalty such as Danni Minogue, Dami Im and Margot Robbie to name a few. We chat about his career, as well as his personal journey as a young, gay Maori person. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

Here's a quick episode from Pacific Wave Radio, a show I co-host with @kimaea_unfiltered. I talk about my own struggles with internalised homophobia and why it is important to unpack those feelings. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

David Tuipulotu is an Activist & Aspiring Academic from Auckland, NZ. Pele talks to David about his studies as well as his beliefs surround Gay Marriage. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

Ezra Phoenix is a singer/songwriter & artist based in Porirua, Aotearoa. Ezra dropped his self-titled album, so we catch up with Ezra to chat about the album, as well as his experience as a gay Samoan man. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

Thomas Grey is a Melbourne-based Professional Make-Up Artist/Extraordinaire and I've been following him on Instagram for the past year. We talk about his Make-Up career, NOT coming out and much more. Follow Thomas on Instagram @thomgrey_makeup --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

Pele was in the hot seat in this episode as he had one of his best friends, Mema Elise join him for a chat.  Mema had a few questions about Pele's life and some things that she's picked up on as a listener of Queer Coco. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

She is an International Speaker, Performer, Writer, Curator, Activist & Storyteller, She is the legendary, Amao Leota Lu. Amao and Pele talk about being brown and queer in white spaces as well as the anxiety-inducing and agonising act of "coming out" to family. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

I've been obsessed with 'Call Me By Your Name' lately and I really wanted to chat about it with someone. Ben Tauti is back and we break down our favourite parts of the film and book. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

Pele has some things to get off his chest! We also feature his full interview with LGBTQI+ Activist and Co-Founder of End Conversion Therapy. Shaneel Lal (@shaneellall) JUST BECAUSE YOU ACCEPT YOUR GAY BROTHER, it does not make you excempt from being homophobic much like having Black friends doesn’t make you anti-Racist. It means that your work begins at home to provide a safe place for the queer people in your life but extending this to the world. Speak up when people say offensive shit about gay people, not just because your brother or friend is gay but because it’s the right thing to do. We are sick of being the “exception” to your so-called values. You are no martyr. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

We are kicking off Season 2 with a quick catch-up with Pele!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

I’ve been wanting to chat to the amazing Tyson for the longest time and we finally got to do that. We chat about his coming out, being a Christian and so much more. • Thank you to Tyson for being so open! If you don’t already follow him, please do here -> @ty_goddard_@evangeline_yen_ @thiccshakecrew@runway_movement@houseofalexander__ - he’s a fierce warrior on social justice and isn’t afraid to call out the fuckshit that many let slide! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

To say that I’m not nervous about putting this podcast out, would be a lie, but I have been moved to do so after the senseless murder of George Floyd, the consequent events in Minneapolis and the countless acts of violence against black people. We end the episode with the poignant words of Tameka Mallory. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

We published our first YouTube video and here it is for your listening pleasure. Listen as your host, Pele, answers some tough questions from an Instagram Q&A he posted. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

Sapati Apa (aka Disciple Pati) is a Samoan singer/songwriter, based in Auckland, NZ and is part of a new generation of young Pasifika women doing it for themselves and their community by speaking truth to power. This is not a regular episode, I repeat THIS IS NOT A REGULAR QC EPISODE. We chat about her sexuality not being an issue for her parents, and how it usually takes a back seat to her Instagram posts which often sees a DP scantily clad and standing on our necks; Beyonce, Living Legend; Church & more. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

Well known for his incredible works of art in the world of baking, the beautiful Niuafe shares the other side to his story that MANY Queer Pasifika & Maori Youth have experienced. These are things that we as the P&M community don’t like to talk about because everything is so fucking taboo and inconvenient. I am in awe of Niuafe and the way he has managed to come out of his situation with such grace and I’m so honoured that he was able to entrust me with helping him tell his story. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

Today we have the newly appointed President and Director of PacifiqueX. PacifiqueX is a platform for LGBTQIA+ Pacific Islanders. - being the first of its kind in Victoria. We chat about the future of the organisation as well as Markus' own experience growing up queer in a Pacific Island family. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

Pele has a chat with the incredible photography, Herman Andersen. All 'Coming Out' stories are different and what lead to Herman's will make you question those that are supposed to be there to support you.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

I've met a few interesting people on Poly Twitter and SoyBoy is no exception. His tweets caught my attention because they weren't only hilarious but they were so relatable to me as a self-professed clown! Listen to us chop it up about some of clownery and tomfoolery that we've participated in WILLINGLY. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

Dan and I have been friends for 10 years and I have a deep respect for his hustle for not only him but for his family. Dan is an entrepreneur and does everything with great style and flare. Join us for a quick chat about his journey. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

"Being a believer in Christ and wearing my sin in the open isn’t exactly the easiest thing to do." I saw a post on Instagram a couple of weeks ago that really triggered me that happened to be written by a beautiful Pasefika Transwoman from Auckland. To protect her privacy, I will not name her because she has since deleted the post. Although it was a very small part of her caption, it really resonated with me and that's what I discuss in today's show. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

On episode 6 of my podcast, I sat down with my old friend Ella Ganza and we talked about her experience as a Samoan Transwoman in the diaspora. Ella founded the Runway Dance Crew - a hip hop dance group made up of queer folk - alongside Frankiee Tagilao in 2010. Fast forward to 2019 and the name and legacy lives on in Runway Movement, a group of QPOC making their mark in Brisbane by taking up space in places that are predominantly mayonnaise. Ella also makes up a third of the hip hop drag supergroup Thicc Shake & is THE Mother of House of Alexander --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

Coming out is not an easy thing to do, but here are some ways that can help. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

Larisa, 28, is an entrepreneur and SHE.E.O as she likes to say! I sit down with Larisa and we talk about her experience as a young, lesbian woman. We touch on her dating life, as well as coming out to her family. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

This may or may not be a rant about my unhealthy obsession with masculinity. I unpack my past dealings with "straight men" and also discuss a little bit about my experiences on dating apps. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

This is my very first full length episode and I am so excited to be sharing with you an honest conversation between two friends. To be frank, I learned a lot about my friend Ben and I’m sure it was the same for him. We discuss when he discovered that he was different and talk a little about being gender policed. We also go into a little bit about when people of authority in our lives have weaponised our other-ness against us and our parents. A lot of the themes we discuss I wish to elaborate more on in other episodes but for now, please enjoy this light but informative chat on ‘Being Brown & Different’. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message

The 'Queer Coco' Podcast aims to tackle issues faced by young, queer Pacific Island people, where they stem from and how we contribute to them. With this knowledge we will gain a better understanding of each other and ultimately - hopefully - a better world. This episode serves as an introduction to your host, Pele Vaimoso and to also provide a brief insight on the coming episodes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercoco/message