Seen

While we often want to hold onto the things we love forever, endings are a sacred part of our natural cycles and they deserve to be honoured. In this final episode, Nic and Lala discuss their decision to end the podcast, reflect on their achievements and regrets, dream into their futures, and celebrate everything SEEN is and has been.

For the final episode of the season, Nic and Lala are joined by Marcellite Failla, a practitioner and scholar of African diasporic religions and spiritualities. Together, they explore the alchemy of change once more, interweaving the importance of ritual and routine, and discussing what it means to reclaim spiritual practices in a decolonized way. 

The challenges associated with growth, transformation or success are often under-discussed. Often, we imagine that getting  the thing you've been working so hard for means you're set, that you have it under control — but what happens in reality? In this episode, Nic and Lala are joined by Mebrat Beyene to discuss the peaks and valleys of levelling up.

At some point along our journeys of personal growth or healing, we can find ourselves plateauing into a dreaded sense of stagnancy. In this episode, Nic and Lala explore the ways that stopping, stillness and taking stock are crucial elements to personal transformation, and how bringing more compassion and less comparison can support us in moving forward. 

In this episode, Nic and Lala continue to explore transformative justice on a personal level by tackling hope: its elusiveness, some of the uncomfortable pressures that it can place on us to be toxically positive, and how a ‘grounded' hope can serve us well.

In this episode, Nic and Lala are joined by jaye simpson. Together, they talk about the ways that change can involve loss, how grief can be our teacher, and how grieving can illuminate what we care for and deserve. 

In this episode, Nic and Lala are joined by Nadine Tilma and explore the concept of radical self-love: how it supports the change process, what it makes possible in our lives, and how to hold the dialectic of acceptance and change.

In this episode, Nic and Lala explore safety as a condition and as something to cultivate within and around ourselves in order to foster the change we desire. They discuss what safety means to them and some of the tools we can use to create it.

In this episode, Nic and Lala are joined by activist, organizer and writer, Harsha Walia to talk about perfectionism, the fear (or necessity) of being seen, and how visibility is never more important than our shared humanity, relationships, and connections.

In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss longing, what drives change, and the magical ways that nature and a sense of wonder can both sustain and reframe how we accept the inevitabilities of transformation within ourselves. 

Nic and Lala discuss how their lives and relationships with themselves have changed, and explore the concept of transformative justice for self.

Nic and Lala describe their upcoming season of Seen, The Alchemy of Change, available January 2023.

Nic and Lala discuss changing directions and future plans for the podcast.

As the pandemic stretches on, Nic and Lala turn away from isolation and dream into the communities that would nourish and sustain them, exploring the intentionality, values, and vulnerability that would be required to bring these dreams into reality. Song of the week: My Kind of Love by Emeli Sandé

When is laughter medicine, and when is it something more harmful? In this episode, Nic and Lala break down their ideas about comedy, the responsibility of the comedian, and the alchemy they believe it can offer us. Song of the week: Mooo! by Doja Cat

If we were freed from the pressures of healing our past or controlling our present, what would we be able to access about who we are, and all we've done? In this episode, Nic and Lala explore what it means to tap into distant parts to receive the wisdom they've held all along. Song of the week: I Am by Kindred the Family Soul

Do you know how to make contact with your younger self? In this episode, Nic and Lala explore therapeutic time travel and begin to transform the circumstances that keep parts of them stuck in the past. Song of the week: Never Would Have Made It by Teyana Taylor

We long to be seen the way we see ourselves - to be understood. And yet, what seems to be a foundational part of being in relationship often feels elusive. In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss the inevitability, the pain, and the gifts of being misunderstood. Song of the week: Don't let me be misunderstood by Nina Simone

Success is a loaded word, coopted by capitalism and often connected to money, power, fame and fortune. But do these definitions of success actually work for you? In this episode, Nic and Lala offer reflections on what this word means and how we can re-orient ourselves to it. Song of the week: Free Mind by Tems

Not ones to beat around the bush, Nic and Lala dive in to discuss the impact that their periods have had on them over time, how they've navigated pain and intimacy, and what it means to chart a new course in their relationship to their cycles. Song of the week: And The Beat Goes On by The Whispers

After 5 seasons of beautiful, Black excellence, dazzling visuals, a soundtrack that just won't quit, and laughs to last forever, our beloved comedy series has ended. In this spoiler-laden episode, Nic and Lala chat about their biggest takeaways and lessons learned from watching Issa Rae's HBO series. Song of the week: Insecure by Bryson Tiller & Jazmine Sullivan

In this last episode of 2021, Nic and Lala reflect on the last six months of extreme weather and natural disasters in so-called BC, and the feelings of grief, overwhelm, and impending doom that has come with them. They explore what it means to cope under these conditions, and how to keep ahold of both the precariousness and preciousness of life. Song of the week: Made of Gold by Ibeyi

Simple words spoken to us in childhood can create lasting imprints on how we take up space, and the lessons of unlikely teachers can drastically alter the path of every relationship we have. In this episode, Nic and Lala share some of the most impactful teachings and teachers in their life. Song of the week: Appletree by Erykah Badu

In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss their respective wishes for acceptance and peace, what makes these states elusive, and the paradox of living inside and outside of what we have and what we long for at the same damn time. Song of the week: The Other Side by Jazmine Sullivan

In this episode, Nic and Lala share what it has meant to them and how they engage and plan to sustain decolonization as a lifelong committed practice. song of the week: Zombie by Fela Kuti

What do you keep hidden? What secrets, desires or parts of yourself would you prefer to tuck away into the crevices of shame? In this episode, Nic and Lala tap into their vulnerability and speak on the areas of their life that, when brought into the light, can be examined, understood and transformed.  Song of the week: Don't Judge Me by Janelle Monáe

Whether we care to admit it or not, most of us resonate with a deep desire to be loved, accepted and cherished. But in practice, much can get in the way of receiving the love we so deserve. In this episode, Nic and Lala explore what it means to be loved in all ways, and from all directions. Song of the week: Ex-Factor by Lauryn Hill

What do we risk when we enter conflicts in our friendships? And what do we risk when we avoid them? In this episode, Nic and Lala explore fear and vulnerability by discussing trust, conflict, and hurt in their own friendship. Song of the week: Best Friend by Pharrell

Personal healing and collective liberation work is taxing, and in the midst of this labour, our ability to take a break and feel some respite can become a luxury. So what can we use to keep us afloat? In this episode, Nic and Lala talk about what cultivating sacred presence, striking balance, and showing up in our own lives—for ourselves—can afford us. Song of the week: Just Fine by Mary J. Blige

As the world celebrates Pride month, Nic and Lala trace the evolution of Pride from a radical liberation movement to what often feels like a depoliticized corporate party, and call for Two-Spirit, queer and trans BIPOC to regain our rightful place as leaders of Pride movements. Song of the week: Crazy Classic Life by Janelle Monae

In this episode, Nic and Lala reflect and mourn the ongoing genocide of Indigenous peoples, grieving the enormous loss of life following the recovery of 215 childrens' bodies in Kamloops, and offer actionable ways that all settlers can work towards accountability for our complicity. Song of the week: Where Do We Go From Here by Solange

If all our faves are problematic, can they still be our faves? In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss the ethics of loving problematic art, humanizing artists, and the responsibilities of the audience. Song of the week: Moment of Clarity by Jay-Z

Our impact on the world around us can often feel intangible. While we know our lives are more than our labour or careers, the notion of legacy often gets boiled down to fame, popularity or being “known” for something--but what else is possible? In this episode, Nic and Lala offer their ideas on relationships and values as forms of legacy, and how the small ripples of our actions can cause massive waves of care for generations to come.  Song of the week: I Was Here by Beyonce. 

When occupying positions of authority, women and non-binary folks of colour are often said to experience imposter syndrome. But when our qualifications, skills, and expertise are constantly questioned, is it really that simple? In this episode, Lala and Nic use an anti-oppressive framework to discuss the contradictions of claiming authority and ceding power when we have so little to begin with. Song of the week: Boss Bitch by Doja Cat

In this episode, Nic shares some of her initial learnings on transformative justice, what it offers our movements, and how it has begun to resonate, challenge, and spark new reflections on addressing harm, achieving accountability, and holding onto our humanity. Song of the week: Oh Maker by Janelle Monáe

What does it look like, sound like, feel like to see the world through the eyes of your oppressors? When you see even yourself through their eyes? in this episode, Nic and Lala discuss what it means to look across rather than “up”, how internalized misogyny leaves us lonely, and more. Song of the week: Ideal Woman by Celeste 

Friendship is a gift, offering us real opportunities to practice love, care, and accountability. But often, real friends are hard to come by, our ideas about friendship may not match reality. Seasons change, and so do we. In this episode, Nic and Lala celebrate the joy and power of one of the most sacred forms of relationship. Song of the week: Best Friend by Saweetie ft. Doja Cat

If guilt lets us know when we’ve done something wrong, why is it often referred to as a wasted emotion? Does guilt immobilize us or move us to take action? In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss the contradictions of guilt, the ways it intersects with ego and with ableism, and how to move from guilt to responsibility. Song of the week: Same Ol' Mistakes by Rihanna

Birthdays, holidays, anniversaries. While we may feel pressured to create picture-perfect celebrations for these supposedly sunny days, many of us find ourselves triggered, wrapped in grief, and wanting to hide. In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss trauma coinciding with celebration, and how to take care of ourselves on these complex occasions. Song of the week: Overwhelmed by Chloe x Halle

Do you know what your intuition looks, sounds, tastes, feels like? In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss healing our intuition as BIPOC in a white supremacist society, distinguishing between intuition and anxiety, and the blessings of learning to listen and connect. Song of the week: Nature by India.Arie.

In this episode, Nic and Lala process the recent white supremacist violence in the US Capitol, discussing how these same forces manifest in what is currently known as Canada, why Canadians are so eager to ignore the problems at home, and the energy shift BIPOC are experiencing in this moment. Song of the week: Earth Is Ghetto by Aliah Sheffield

We live in a society where separation, disconnection, and harm are the norm. This is a trauma culture that supports ongoing colonialism and genocide. In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss intergenerational trauma, cultural shadow work, and our collective responsibility to heal. Song of the week: The Sharecropper’s Daughter by Sa-Roc.

As adults, our relationships with parents might be edifying and supportive, but for others, painful remnants from the past can carry forward, weighing us down. In this episode, Nic shares what it’s meant to build empathy for her father as she heads into a new phase of life. Song of the week: Saturn by NAO

The most intimate relationship of our lives is the one we have with ourselves. But it is also the most complicated, and at times, the most painful. In this episode, Nic and Lala dig into the roots of self-hatred and trace paths toward healing. Song of the week: u by Kendrick Lamar

Most of us come to justice work with a deep sense of care and love for others. But often, inadequacy and the belief we’re not doing enough eclipses our ability to have compassion for ourselves - or each other. In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss the challenges of navigating vulnerability, performative allyship and shame. Song of the week: Pretty Hurts by Beyonce

Rest is one of our most basic needs, so why do we find ourselves resisting and outrunning it? And in doing so, how are we harming the sick and disabled folks among us? In this episode, Nic and Lala slow down and discuss balance, quieting the noise around us, and rest as a foundational part of healing and liberation work. Song of the week: Beautiful by India.Arie

Collective liberation requires all hands on deck, so what role do you play as you show up to do the work? How can we challenge hierarchies of power that lie even within our “safer” havens of care? In this episode, Nic and Lala lean on the teachings of Mariame Kaba who teaches us that everything worthwhile is done with other people. Song of the week: My Power by CHIKA

With all the ways we are harmed by dominant groups in society, we often expect the communities we build with other marginalized folks to be safe havens. So what happens when they’re not? In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss power and entitlement, examining our own complicity, and what it would take to build safer communities. Song of the week: Cold War by Janelle Monáe. 

What would be possible if the men who don’t actively commit violence showed up to support survivors and oppose violence with everything they've got? In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss surviving the indifference of our communities, the layers of harm and betrayal caused by toxic masculinity, and why supporting men necessitates holding them accountable. Song of the week: Love Drought by Beyonce. 

Black women show up for everyone, but who shows up for them? Who benefits from maintaining Black women’s oppression? And what do calls to #protectblackwomen mean in a world that gleefully maligns their pain and silences their voices? In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss patriarchy, Black women’s power, and the importance of knowing our history. Song of the week: Baby Girl by Chloe x Halle.

True to their mission of learning in public, Nic and Lala discuss their feelings about identifying as femmes, their understandings of femininity and who is excluded from it, and the rebellion of femme identity. Song of the week: Pynk by Janelle Monáe