We Can't Do It Alone

On this episode of We Can't Do It Alone, Nōn sits down with friend, father, and recently graduated social worker Craig Dickson to explore how we're shaped by listening to people's stories, Craig's experience being a dad to two kids who live with autism spectrum disorder and how his kids help him deepen his patience and soften his anger, why we shouldn't be judged by how well we follow society's expectations, and learning how to ask for help.Helpful things mentioned during this episode:Surfers HealingCraig on InstagramHow you can support Nōn and this independently-run podcast:Leave a 5-star rating and a wildly glowing review for We Can't Do It Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Order The Feely Cards on Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local indie bookseller for yourself and literally everyone you know.Listen to You, Me, Empathy, Nōn's previous podcast about mental health, empathy, and big feelings.Need some help with your podcast, or thinking about starting a podcast? Get in touch!Connect with Nōn at nonwels.com and on Instagram @youmeempathy.Thank you for listening to We Can't Do It Alone! Don't forget about the helpers. We all need help. Even you.xoxonōn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of We Can't Do It Alone, Nōn sits down with disability justice activist, founder of the Upgrade Accessibility movement, award-winning podcaster (The Politics of Disability), and author of Adventurous Adeline, Mary Fashik, to explore what it feels like for Mary, as someone who is immunocompromised, to see the world "move on" from Covid, why online activism is real activism, how Mary's community helped her realize that she had been living with multiple chronic conditions, and why all issues are disability justice issues.Full Transcription.Helpful things mentioned during this episode:UpgradeAccessibility.comAdventurous AdelineThe Way HomeNew Disabled SouthNamed Advocates10 Principles of Disability JusticeMary on InstagramHow you can support Nōn and this independently-run podcast:Leave a 5-star rating and a wildly glowing review for We Can't Do It Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Order The Feely Cards on Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local indie bookseller for yourself and literally everyone you know.Listen to You, Me, Empathy, Nōn's previous podcast about mental health, empathy, and big feelings.Connect with Nōn at nonwels.com and on Instagram @youmeempathy.Thank you for listening to We Can't Do It Alone! Don't forget about the helpers. We all need help. Even you.xoxonōn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of We Can't Do It Alone, Nōn sits down with social justice activist, award-winning author of The Wake Up, and podcaster (I Feel That Way Too) Michelle MiJung Kim to explore how to be human with each other, the beauty of resilient relationships, Michelle's identity quakes, how we can all take on more collective risk in pursuit of collective liberation, and the story of when Michelle lost nearly all of her clients for standing up for Palestine.Helpful things mentioned during this episode:MichelleMijungKim.comI Feel That Way TooMichelle on InstagramMichelle on LinkedInAsian Americans for Civil Rights & Equality (AACRE)My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa MenakemHow you can support Nōn and this independently-run podcast:Leave a 5-star rating and a wildly glowing review for We Can't Do It Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Order The Feely Cards on Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local indie bookseller for yourself and literally everyone you know.Listen to You, Me, Empathy, Nōn's previous podcast about mental health, empathy, and big feelings.Connect with Nōn at nonwels.com and on Instagram @youmeempathy.Thank you for listening to We Can't Do It Alone! Don't forget about the helpers. We all need help. Even you.xoxonōn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To kick off season 2 of We Can't Do It Alone, Nōn introduces this season by getting a lil spicy and exploring today's rampant individualism and why community, and the helpers, are our resistance.How you can support Nōn and this independently-run podcast:Leave a 5-star rating and a wildly glowing review for We Can't Do It Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Order The Feely Cards on Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local indie bookseller for yourself and literally everyone you know.Listen to You, Me, Empathy, Nōn's previous podcast about mental health, empathy, and big feelings.Connect with Nōn at nonwels.com and on Instagram @youmeempathy.Thank you for listening to We Can't Do It Alone! Don't forget about the helpers. We all need help. Even you.xoxonōn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On episode 9 of We Can't Do It Alone, Nōn sits down with illustrator, video creator and podcaster, Sophie Ansari (Podcrushed) to explore the culture of curiosity in the Bahá'í faith, having a life partner who is open to learning, naughty things we did as teenagers and being a hopeful teenager, and why we're mirrors for each other.Helpful things mentioned during this episode:@scribbledbysophiePodcrushed podcastBirth FundHow you can support Nōn and this independently-run podcast:Leave a 5-star rating and a wildly glowing review for We Can't Do It Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Pre-order The Feely Cards on Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local indie bookseller for yourself and literally everyone you know.Thank you for listening to We Can't Do It Alone! Don't forget about the helpers. We all need help. Even you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On episode 8 of We Can't Do It Alone, Nōn sits down with comedian, actor and writer Daniel Van Kirk to explore human adaptability, why helping is an unspoken part of a single-parent home, the importance of celebrating while we're still in it, and why working hard and being kind gets you the second job. According to Nōn, Daniel is a sweetie pie, even if he might look like he can rough you up. Helpful things mentioned during this episode:Daniel Van Kirk@danielvankirkRose Gold (Daniel's comedy special!)Wine ClubPen Pals (latest eps on Patreon, backlog on Apple)The Midnight AirDumb People TownHow you can support Nōn and this independently-run podcast:Leave a 5-star rating and a wildly glowing review for We Can't Do It Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Share your helpers with Nōn here and he may (or may not but still be delighted) share your helper on the podcast in season 2.Pre-order The Feely Cards on Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local indie bookseller for yourself and literally everyone you know.Thank you for listening to We Can't Do It Alone! Don't forget about the helpers. We all need help. Even you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On episode 7 of We Can't Do It Alone, Nōn sits down with Ess Crossley (he/they) to explore our new project The Feely Cards (out October 22*), how helping sometimes looks like people educating us even if it feels uncomfortable, Ess's transformation from their "women phase" to their beautiful nonbinary trans little bean world, and how our capacity for love, patience, helping, and even being human is rekindled by community. Helpful things mentioned during this episode:@itskindaokPre-order The Feely Cards (*the original pub date moved from Sept 17 to Oct 22 due to production delays)Victoria Native Friendship Centre (donate if you can!)About Ess:Ess Crossley (he/they) is a tattoo artist, co-founder of the Fruity Ceramic Studio, illustrator, and co-creator of The Feely Cards. They are a beautiful non-binary trans little bean who Nōn cherishes deeply. Connect with Ess on Instagram at @itskindaok. How you can support Nōn and this independently-run podcast:Leave a 5-star rating and a wildly glowing review for We Can't Do It Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Share your helpers with Nōn here and he may (or may not but still be delighted) share your helper on the podcast in season 2.Pre-order The Feely Cards on Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local indie bookseller for yourself and literally everyone you know.Follow @wecantdoitalone on Instagram.Thank you for listening to We Can't Do It Alone! Don't forget about the helpers. We all need help. Even you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On episode 6 of We Can't Do It Alone, Nōn sits down with Eric Dorsa to talk about their experience as a queer person in recovery (eating disorder, substance), how we silence or diminish parts of ourselves when things are disordered, what it's like to reclaim space in a world where you've felt unseen and unsupported, and how Eric embraces drag as a medium for bringing more inclusivity and equitable care in the recovery realm.Helpful things mentioned during this episode:@fkdragProject HealEating Recovery CenterTrans LifelineAbout Eric:Eric Dorsa (they/she/elle/ella) is a drag performer (Fonda Koxx), podcaster, makeup artist, and mental health advocate with Eating Recovery Center and Project Heal. They are an activist who uses drag as a way to bring awareness to the inequities and inaccessibility in eating recovery spaces for folks of color, queer people, trans folks, and other marginalized identities. They are a gem of a human being who Nōn cares for deeply.How you can support Nōn and this independently-run podcast:Leave a 5-star rating and a wildly glowing review for We Can't Do It Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Share your helpers with Nōn here and he may (or may not but still be delighted) share your helper on the podcast in season 2.Pre-order The Feely Cards on Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local indie bookseller for yourself and literally everyone you know.Follow @wecantdoitalone on Instagram.Thank you for listening to We Can't Do It Alone! Don't forget about the helpers. We all need help. Even you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On episode 5 of We Can't Do It Alone, Nōn sits down with Sam Robertson to explore the ripple effect of helping, why reading is the best way to strengthen your empathy muscles, why stories are the core of humanity, Sam's experience as an owner of an independent bookshop, and why bookstores are the heart of community.Helpful things mentioned during this episode:Arvida Book Co.@arvidabookcoThe Arvida ReviewMultiracial Americans of Southern CaliforniaAbout Sam:Sam Robertson is the co-owner of Arvida Book Co., a magical independent bookstore in the heart of downtown Tustin, California. Sam is also the editor-in-chief of The Arvida Review, a community-oriented short fiction publication that provides a platform for new and diverse voices. She finds joy in the company of her daughters Abby and Ellie, her husband Mike, as well as indulging in the pleasures of reading, gardening, and dedicating time to serving her community.How you can support Nōn and this independently-run podcast:Leave a 5-star rating and a wildly glowing review for We Can't Do It Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Share your helpers with Nōn here and he may (or may not but still be delighted) share your helper on the podcast in season 2.Pre-order The Feely Cards on Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local indie bookseller for yourself and literally everyone you know.Follow @wecantdoitalone on Instagram.Thank you for listening to We Can't Do It Alone! Don't forget about the helpers. We all need help. Even you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On episode 4 of We Can't Do It Alone, Nōn sits down with Bill Cole to explore coming of age during the AIDS crisis, queer representation in film, the particularly heinous stigma around AIDS, how someone you've never met can be a helper, and the lasting legacy of AIDS activist icon, Stephen Gendin. Helpful things mentioned during this episode:@billcolebillcoleThe AIDS MemorialBroadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDSAbout Bill:After growing up on the beaches of Southern California, this highly sensitive creative soul put his talents as an artist, designer, and decorator to use for almost four decades in theater, film, television, and event production. Bill has also been a visible figure in the L.A. nightlife scene as the omnipresent doorman at the legendary neighborhood gay bar, Akbar. Bill is a big fan of history, especially LGBTQ+ history. For the past decade, Bill has been on a personal journey of emotional healing and self discovery. The next chapter of his life puts him in the deserts of Southern California, focusing on some more personal creative projects like his photo journal Instagram page, @mailslotboys, which documents a particular aspect of gay nightlife culture from a unique perspective. He hopes to have prints ready for a gallery show soon!How you can support Nōn and this independently-run podcast:Leave a 5-star rating and a wildly glowing review for We Can't Do It Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Share your helpers with Nōn here and he may (or may not but still be delighted) share your helper on the podcast in season 2.Pre-order The Feely Cards on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org or your local indie bookseller for yourself and everyone you know.Follow @wecantdoitalone on Instagram.Thank you for listening to We Can't Do It Alone! Don't forget about the helpers. We all need help. Even you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On episode 3 of We Can't Do It Alone, Nōn sits down with 20-something neurodivergent queer disabled writer, Zee Zelinski, to explore why we're mosaics of everything and everyone we've ever interacted with, the particular grief of help and helping as a disabled person, gender identity, feeling seen as a little queer kid, and Zee's love letter to poet Andrea Gibson.Helpful things mentioned during this episode:@thebeautifulgodsYour Life by Andrea GibsonTo Write Love On Her ArmsZee (they/them) is an intersectional writer and advocate residing in Washington State. Their work highlights their experiences in being a queer, neurodivergent, disabled 20-something in today's society. You can connect with Zee on Instagram @thebeautifulgods.How you can support Nōn and this independently-run podcast:Leave a 5-star rating and a wildly glowing review for We Can't Do It Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Share your helpers with Nōn here and he may (or may not but still be delighted) share your helper on the podcast in season 2.Pre-order The Feely Cards on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org or your local indie bookseller for yourself and everyone you know.Follow @wecantdoitalone on Instagram.Thank you for listening to We Can't Do It Alone! Don't forget about the helpers. We all need help. Even you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On episode 2 of We Can't Do It Alone, Nōn sits down with NY Times bestselling author Frederick Joseph to explore the craft and respite of writing poetry, Black boys and men being whole beings capable of being strong and soft, collective liberation, and how we feel collective care should look like: I am yours and you are mine. Frederick is the author of the heart-stirring poetry collection, We Alive, Beloved.Helpful things mentioned during this episode:Frederick Joseph@fredtjosephWe Alive, BelovedTrans Defense Fund LAFrederick Joseph is a Westchester raised two-time New York Times bestselling author, and a “genius across genres.” His books include a poetry collection, We Alive, Beloved, two books of nonfiction, Patriarchy Blues, and The Black Friend, a collaboration, Better Than We Found It, and a children's book, The Courage to Dream, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Joseph's books have been named an Amazon Editors' Pick, notable by the International Literacy Association, Best Children's Book of the Year by Bank Street College, a Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice selection, Booklist Editors' Choice, and more. He has written for The Boston Globe, Essence, Huffington Post, AdWeek, and Cosmopolitan, and won both the Letter Review Poetry prize and a Letter Review Essay prize. His most recent writing on politics and culture can be found on his Substack. He lives with his wife Porsche and dog Stokely in New York City.How you can support Nōn and this independently-run podcast:Leave a 5-star rating and a wildly glowing review for We Can't Do It Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Share your helpers with Nōn here and he may (or may not but still be delighted) share your helper on the podcast in season 2.Pre-order The Feely Cards on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org or your local indie bookseller for yourself and everyone you know.Follow @wecantdoitalone on Instagram.Thank you for listening to We Can't Do It Alone! Don't forget about the helpers. We all need help. Even you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On episode 1 of We Can't Do It Alone, Nōn sits down with Giselle Vriesen to explore being a first-time author, forgetting oneself in pursuit of creating, holding the darkness and the light, and letting people in to allow them to help us. Giselle is the author of Why We Play With Fire, a mythological adventure story that I absolutely adored.Helpful things mentioned during this episode:Why We Play With Fire by Giselle VriesenThe Moon In You: A Period Guide for Girls by Alexandria King and Giselle VriesenAffirmations for Black Women: a Journal by Oludara AdeeyoHappiness Is Overrated by Cuong Lu@gisellevriesen on Instagram@wandering.moons on InstagramGiselle Vriesen (she/they) is a 23-year-old author living on Halalt First Nations land on Vancouver Island Canada. Her debut YA fantasy novel Why We Play With Fire released in February of 2024 through Row House Publishing, distributed by S&S, her sequel is upcoming in 2026. Giselle is also the co-creator of the Anti-Racism Course for Educators, teaches a writing course that facilitates decolonized and embodied storytelling, and has been a professional tarot reader for the past eight years. How you can support Nōn and this independently-run podcast:Leave a 5-star rating and a wildly glowing review for We Can't Do It Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Share your helpers with Nōn here and he may (or may not but still be delighted) share your helper on the podcast in season 2.Pre-order The Feely Cards on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org or your local indie bookseller for yourself and everyone you know.Connect with Nōn and the podcast:@wecantdoitalone @youmeempathywecantdoitalone.comThank you for listening to We Can't Do It Alone! Don't forget about the helpers. We all need help. Even you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.