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This week's Practical Horseman Podcast, sponsored by Equinavia, is with hunter, equitation and jumper trainer and judge Archie Cox. He spoke with us in late April as he and his students prepare for upcoming shows. They are competing on both the West and East Coasts at The Oaks Capistrano Cup 1 & 2 and the Devon Horse Show.To give you more background on Archie, he grew up competing along the East Coast as a junior rider. He earned numerous equitation ribbons, including at the USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final and ASPCA Maclay Finals. Archie went on to ride for the equestrian team at Drew University. He collected team and individual Intercollegiate Horse Show Association titles at the regional and national level. After college, Archie moved to California in 1992 to work with top hunter/jumper trainer Karen Healey for several years. In December 2000, Archie opened his own business, Brookway Stables—named after his grandparents' farm in Maine—at Middle Ranch in Lakeview Terrace, California. His students and horses in training have collected numerous champion titles at the country's most prestigious shows.In our discussion, Archie talks about what he enjoys about working with horses, one of his favorite training exercises and what he wants to see in the show ring as a judge.About This Episode's Sponsor, EquinaviaSpring is here—and so is the new collection at Equinavia! From breeches to bridles, we outfit riders from head to toe, and horses from hoof to head, with everything you need to ride in comfort and confidence. Rooted in Scandinavian tradition, our gear blends timeless style with true functionality—so you can focus on what matters most: the ride. The ride begins at Equinavia.com. You can also follow Equinavia on Facebook and Instagram. Mentioned in this episode:Purinahttps://www.purinamills.com/HorsePerformance
This week's Practical Horseman Podcast, sponsored by Equinavia, is with hunter, equitation and jumper trainer and judge Archie Cox. He spoke with us in late April as he and his students prepare for upcoming shows. They are competing on both the West and East Coasts at The Oaks Capistrano Cup 1 & 2 and the Devon Horse Show.To give you more background on Archie, he grew up competing along the East Coast as a junior rider. He earned numerous equitation ribbons, including at the USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final and ASPCA Maclay Finals. Archie went on to ride for the equestrian team at Drew University. He collected team and individual Intercollegiate Horse Show Association titles at the regional and national level. After college, Archie moved to California in 1992 to work with top hunter/jumper trainer Karen Healey for several years. In December 2000, Archie opened his own business, Brookway Stables—named after his grandparents' farm in Maine—at Middle Ranch in Lakeview Terrace, California. His students and horses in training have collected numerous champion titles at the country's most prestigious shows.In our discussion, Archie talks about what he enjoys about working with horses, one of his favorite training exercises and what he wants to see in the show ring as a judge.About This Episode's Sponsor, EquinaviaSpring is here—and so is the new collection at Equinavia! From breeches to bridles, we outfit riders from head to toe, and horses from hoof to head, with everything you need to ride in comfort and confidence. Rooted in Scandinavian tradition, our gear blends timeless style with true functionality—so you can focus on what matters most: the ride. The ride begins at Equinavia.com. You can also follow Equinavia on Facebook and Instagram. Mentioned in this episode:Purinahttps://www.purinamills.com/HorsePerformance
Piper speaks with two of the judges from the 2025 WEF Equitation Championship in Wellington, Florida, Karen Healey and Michael Tokaruk. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Karen Healey began her professional career working for George Morris at Hunterdon Stables in New Jersey in 1971. Karen moved to California ten years later and began her business at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Since moving to California, Karen's riders have won over 100 medal finals and she has trained numerous hunters and jumpers to wins at indoors, earned national championships and medals at the North American Young Riders Championship and the Prix de States. In addition to her students' success in the show ring, Karen is an instrumental force in the administration of equestrian sport. She holds a USEF R-rated judging license and has judged some of the most prestigious shows in the country, including the Devon Horse Show, the Hampton Classic, the USEF Pony Finals and the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search East Coast Finals and the 2022 Dover Saddlery USEF Hunt Seat Medal Finals in Harrisburg, PA.Guest: Michael Tokaruk is a top rider, trainer and judge who also runs a training and sales business, Tokaruk Show Stables, out of Tennessee and Wellington, Florida. Michael worked with top professionals such as Scott Stewart, Missy Clark, Bob Braswell and Anne Kursinski as a junior rider. Michael has multiple grand prix wins, international and national hunter derby wins to his credit along with continuing his professional education by working with professionals such as Chris Kappler, Andre Dignelli, Katie Monahan-Prudent, and Melanie Smith Taylor. Michael has judged at some of the prestigious horse shows including the 2021 USET Talent Search Finals East, 2022 ASPCA Maclay Finals, Capital Challenge Horse Show and the 2024 Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter Finals- West Coast in Del Mar, CA. Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsor: Equine Affaire
Welcome to The Plaidchat- an extension of The Plaidcast where we expand upon conversations in our sport and discuss the most recent issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine. Today, Piper speaks with Jordan Lubow and Valerie Kalderon of Opening Bell Farms, who are the TPH February cover story. Listen in and share with your friends!Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Jordan Lubow is a 38 year old professional hunter rider and trainer who runs Opening Bell Farms with Abby Strohmeyer. Opening Bell Farms is based in Ocala, FL, and owned by Valerie Kalderon. Jordan started riding when she was three years old at Far West Farms in Calabasas, California, and for the majority of her junior career, she rode with Karen Healey and Archie Cox. Jordan specializes in working with young horses and sales.Guest: Valerie Kalderon is the owner of Opening Bell Farms, a leading hunter/jumper boarding and training facility located in Ocala, Florida. She started riding at a young age until her college years. After graduating, she developed a 30+ year career as a senior executive on Wall Street. She rekindled her passion for riding after retiring in Austin, Texas. In 2022, she purchased Opening Bell Farms which she developed out of her own need for quality custom care and training.Read the February Issue of The Plaid Horse MagazineSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, BoneKare, Equine Affaire, Show Strides Book Series, Good Boy, Eddie and Geoff Teall on Riding Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation: Develop a Winning Style
Jim and Jon are joined by some very special guests for some Christmas themed shenanigans. For more Ben, see— Crudely Drawn Swords: https://soundcloud.com/crudely-drawn-swords Trilogy: https://trilogy-rpg.com For more Karen, see— Karen Healey: https://www.karenhealey.com
Piper speaks with Stevie McCarron Wigley about training and managing her business. Dr. Robert Jacobs of Purina Animal Nutrition also joins to talk about the equine microbiome. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services. Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Stevie McCarron Wigley grew up in Los Angeles, California as the daughter of Hall of Fame Jockey, Chris McCarron. Stevie competed and worked for many top professionals through her junior and professional career including Karen Healey, Butch and Lu Thomas and Anne Kursinski. Stevie started her own business in Lexington, Kentucky in 2005 and has been running Cloud Nine Farm ever since. Guest: Dr. Robert Jacobs is an Equine Innovation Manager at Purina Animal Nutrition. Dr. Jacobs earned his Ph.D. in Equine Reproductive Physiology and Nutrition at Virginia Tech and manages the equine research program at the Purina Animal Nutrition Center. For the past 10-plus years he has been leading research efforts for the Purina Equine MQ™ Platform.Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: American Stalls, Purina Animal Nutrition, World Equestrian Center, LAURACEA, America Cryo, BoneKare, Show Strides Book Series, With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard. Good Boy, Eddie, HITS Horse Shows and Great American Insurance Group
Tonya Johnston, Mental Skills Coach speaks with trainer and rider Tasha Visokay of Ingenium Farm. Tonya also answers a listener question on how to get into your zone quickly. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services. Host: Tonya Johnston, Visit her Website, Facebook and buy her book Inside Your Ride Guest: Tasha Visokay has over 35 years of experience riding, training and caring for horses and their riders. After a successful career as a junior rider and working student, Tasha began her professional career after graduating from Barnard College. She worked for top professionals Andre Dignelli, Leslie Steele, and Karen Healey before starting her own Ingenium Farm in 2016. Tasha has a natural talent as a horse trainer and rider in the hunter and jumper rings, but her ability to run a successful business is also one of her biggest strengths. Tasha's clients have won top ribbons at local, regional and national medal finals as well as top placings at jumper year-end award finals. Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: American Stalls, Purina Animal Nutrition, Wordley Martin Premium Equestrian Surfaces, LAURACEA, America Cryo, BoneKare, Show Strides Book Series, With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard. Good Boy, Eddie, World Equestrian Center, Sentinel Horse Nutrition, Laurel Springs School and HITS Horse Show
Carly Anthony was first on the podcast back in 2020, and today she returns to share about her career since we last spoke, and to get the highlights from her 2023 WEF season! Originally from Seattle, Carly grew up riding with her mother Cara Anthony and equitation master Karen Healey. After accruing numerous wins and honors in the Equitation division, including a gold medal in the USET Final, she was recruited to compete for the University of Georgia Equestrian Team. There she received a national title, numerous All American honors, and a degree in business management. Since graduating, Carly turned professional and went on to work for Olympians Eric Lamaze and Ben Maher in Europe and world renowned horse dealer Neil Jones. Carly wants to share her knowledge and experiences with people who enjoy the sport and love of horses as much as she does. Listen in!
Piper and Michael Tokaruk speak with Karen Healey about judging the Dover Saddlery USEF Hunt Seat Medal Finals in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Brianne Goutal-Marteau also joins to talk about everything the Washington International Horse Show has to offer in its new location this year. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.Hosts: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse and Michael Tokaruk Guest: Karen Healey began her professional career working for George Morris at Hunterdon Stables in New Jersey in 1971. Karen moved to California ten years later and began her business at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Since moving to California, Karen's riders have won over 100 medal finals and she has trained numerous hunters and jumpers to wins at indoors, earned national championships and medals at the North American Young Riders Championship and the Prix de States. In addition to her students' success in the show ring, Karen is an instrumental force in the administration of equestrian sport. She holds a USEF R-rated judging license and has judged some of the most prestigious shows in the country, including the Devon Horse Show, the Hampton Classic, the USEF Pony Finals and the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search East Coast Finals and most recently judged the Dover Saddlery USEF Hunt Seat Medal Finals in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Guest: Brianne Goutal-Marteau is an international show jumping athlete, prominent trainer across hunter, jumper, and equitation disciplines. As a junior, Brianne notably won all major equitation finals including the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – East and the WIHS Equitation Championship in 2004, and the USEF Hunt Seat Medal Finals and the ASCPA Maclay National Horsemanship Finals in 2005. As a professional, Brianne has a number major wins including twice taking the top spot in the American Gold Cup Grand Prix in 2013 and 2021. In addition to training and competing, Brianne is also a member of the Washington International Horse Show's Board of Directors.Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: Purina Animal Nutrition, Alexis Kletjian, America Cryo, Nikovian, American Stalls, Show Strides Book Series, Online Equestrian College Courses, and American Equestrian School
On today's show brought to you by the Taylor, Harris Insurance Services and The Plaid Horse Magazine, Mental Skills Coach, Tonya Johnston, speaks to top trainer Karen Healey. Karen's riders have won in every ring for decades and she is especially known for her successes in the equitation where her riders have won over 100-plus medal finals. I am also going to answer a listener question on ways to overcome impostor syndrome.Guests and Links Plaidcast Episode 232:Host: Tonya Johnston, Visit her website, Facebook and buy her book Inside Your RideTitle Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, THISGuest: Karen HealeySubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineEquestrian College Courses with Dr. KlemmSponsors: Springtime Supplements, Legends Horse Feed, Alltech, Show Strides Book SeriesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=87421)
On today's show brought to you by the Taylor, Harris Insurance Services and The Plaid Horse Magazine, Mental Skills Coach, Tonya Johnston, speaks to top trainer Karen Healey. Karen's riders have won in every ring for decades and she is especially known for her successes in the equitation where her riders have won over 100-plus medal finals. I am also going to answer a listener question on ways to overcome impostor syndrome.Guests and Links Plaidcast Episode 232:Host: Tonya Johnston, Visit her website, Facebook and buy her book Inside Your RideTitle Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, THISGuest: Karen HealeySubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineEquestrian College Courses with Dr. KlemmSponsors: Springtime Supplements, Legends Horse Feed, Alltech, Show Strides Book SeriesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=87421)
Originally from Seattle, Carly Anthony grew up riding with her mother Cara Anthony and equitation master Karen Healey. After accruing numerous wins and honors in the Equitation division, including a gold medal in the USET Final, she was recruited to compete for the University of Georgia Equestrian Team. There she received a national title, numerous All American honors, and a degree in business management. Since graduating, Carly turned professional and went on to work for Olympians Eric Lamaze and Ben Maher in Europe and world renowned horse dealer Neil Jones. Listen in! credit: carlyanthonyshowjumping.com
Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss pregnancy in fiction, with plenty of stories from Robyn's experiences and horrified responses from Karen and Carla. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Content note: Body horror, vomiting This episode originally recorded April 2019. Who We Are Karen: I’m Karen Healey, a writer and teacher in Christchurch New Zealand and I may have eaten my twin in the womb Robyn: I’m Robyn Fleming, a writer and parent in Tucson, Arizona. I have been pregnant twice, which makes me the foremost expert in this podcast. Carla: I’m Carla M. Lee, an author, artist, and attorney in the Midwest USA, and I have never and will never be pregnant. I love everyone in this metaphorical bar.
Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss the media they consume when they need comfort. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. This episode was recorded on May 31, 2020, in the middle of another publicized outbreak of police violence and brutality captured on video in the USA and in New Zealand, specifically violence and brutality against Black people. This episode is about media we consume in times of crisis, media that can help us find a moment of comfort so that we can keep fighting. The number of Black people murdered by police continues to rise, and we must continue to fight. This Metaphorical Bar stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter in the USA and around the world. We have donated money to bail funds and Black community resource groups and have volunteered when able. No life can matter until Black lives matter, and we encourage our non-Black listeners to fight for Black lives. All Black lives. Trans Black lives. Queer Black lives. Disabled Black lives. Black lives in all their forms.
Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss how they write, how other authors write, and how there's no One True Way. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who We Are I’m Robyn Fleming, a writer and parent in Tucson, Arizona. I threw a birthday party with 28 children in attendance last weekend, and I am still recovering. Carla: I’m Carla M. Lee, an author, artist, and attorney in the Midwest USA, and I once answered a question Karen asked me and then told her she’d interrupted make-outs. She thought I meant real make-outs. I meant writing make-outs. I can safely say I would not interrupt real make-outs to answer a text. Karen: I’m Karen Healey, a writer and teacher in Christchurch New Zealand, and I once punched myself in the throat while trying to choreograph a fight scene.
Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss fashion and fiction and fatness. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who We Are I’m Carla M Lee, an author, artist, and attorney living in the Midwest USA, and I’m wearing a University of Michigan hoodie over a black pro wrestling shirt (Bray Wyatt), blue jeans, and red and black socks. I’m Karen Healey, an author and teacher living in Otautahi New Zealand, and I’m wearing my new! favourite! jeans! and a purple sleeveless top I’m Robyn Fleming, a parent and writer in Tucson, Arizona. I am wearing pajamas right now, but earlier I had on a tshirt that said “Not to brag, but I totally got out of bed today” - I often get compliments from other moms on my sick t-shirt game.
Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss fashion and fiction and fatness. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who We Are I’m Carla M Lee, an author, artist, and attorney living in the Midwest USA, and I’m wearing a University of Michigan hoodie over a black pro wrestling shirt (Bray Wyatt), blue jeans, and red and black socks. I’m Karen Healey, an author and teacher living in Otautahi New Zealand, and I’m wearing my new! favourite! jeans! and a purple sleeveless top I’m Robyn Fleming, a parent and writer in Tucson, Arizona. I am wearing pajamas right now, but earlier I had on a tshirt that said “Not to brag, but I totally got out of bed today” - I often get compliments from other moms on my sick t-shirt game.
Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss the bad and the ugly of writing the weather (okay, some good too). Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who We Are I’m Karen Healey, an author and teacher living in Otautahi New Zealand, and yesterday I got hella sunburned. I’m Robyn Fleming, a parent and writer in Tucson, Arizona. Last month I went to the Grand Canyon with Karen, and it was beautiful! But also super fucking cold and I slipped on ice and fell RIGHT on my butt. And my pride. I’m Carla M Lee, an author, artist, and attorney living in the Midwest USA, and I had two different birthday trips cancelled do to storms that took Missouri from 70 degrees to blizzard.
Note: We’re talking about menstruation over the next couple of episodes; we try to use gender-neutral language because not all women menstruate and people who menstruate are not all women. We apologize for moments when we mess that up. Note: This is the third, and final, episode in a series about writing menstruation. Note: There are some personal details about how each host experiences menstruation that may be considered TMI. This is the episode that we had to record a second time and the conversation went even longer than normal, so this will be split into multiple episodes. Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss menstruation. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who We Are I’m Robyn Fleming, a parent and writer in Tucson, Arizona. I got my first period on my twelfth birthday. Which was also the day I got my ears pierced. It was a pretty eventful birthday. I’m Carla M. Lee, an author, artist, and attorney living in the Midwest USA, I don’t remember when I got my first period, so instead I’ll tell you that I have a scar on my face sort of shaped like North and South America. I’m Karen Healey, an author and teacher living in Otautahi New Zealand, and my mother said “Congratulations!” in a way that was cool but also she looked DEEPLY FEARFUL about the fact that her oldest child was now official maturing.
Note: We’re talking about menstruation over the next couple of episodes; we try to use gender-neutral language because not all women menstruate and people who menstruate are not all women. We apologize for moments when we mess that up. Note: This is the second in a series about writing menstruation. The first episode ended with talk about “Boobs” by Suzy McKee Charnas, and how a perfectly appropriate response to bullying is to eat them. Note: There are some personal details about how each host experiences menstruation that may be considered TMI. This is the episode that we had to record a second time and the conversation went even longer than normal, so this will be split into multiple episodes. Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss menstruation. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who We Are I’m Robyn Fleming, a parent and writer in Tucson, Arizona. I got my first period on my twelfth birthday. Which was also the day I got my ears pierced. It was a pretty eventful birthday.I’m Carla M. Lee, an author, artist, and attorney living in the Midwest USA, I don’t remember when I got my first period, so instead I’ll tell you that I have a scar on my face sort of shaped like North and South America.I’m Karen Healey, an author and teacher living in Otautahi New Zealand, and my mother said “Congratulations!” in a way that was cool but also she looked DEEPLY FEARFUL about the fact that her oldest child was now official maturing.
Production notes: Still a faint echo sometimes when Robyn is speaking. Working on it, but we had recorded through the next few episodes before we knew about it. Notes: We’re talking about menstruation over the next couple of episodes; we try to use gender-neutral language because not all women menstruate and people who menstruate are not all women. We apologize for moments when we mess that up. This is the episode that we had to record a second time and the conversation went even longer than normal, so this will be split into multiple episodes. Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss menstruation. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who We Are I’m Robyn Fleming, a parent and writer in Tucson, Arizona. I got my first period on my twelfth birthday. Which was also the day I got my ears pierced. It was a pretty eventful birthday.I’m Carla M. Lee, an author, artist, and attorney living in the Midwest USA, I don’t remember when I got my first period, so instead I’ll tell you that I have a scar on my face sort of shaped like North and South America.I’m Karen Healey, an author and teacher living in Otautahi New Zealand, and my mother said “Congratulations!” in a way that was cool but also she looked DEEPLY FEARFUL about the fact that her oldest child was now official maturing.
Production notes: We fixed the previous issue with the popping and cutting out in Robyn’s recording. Yay! And promptly ran into another issue where there is now a faint echo in her recording. Boo. Working on that resolution now, but we recorded a few episodes before we realized it was happening. Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss the redemption through death trope. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who We Are I’m Karen Healey, an author and teacher living in Otautahi New Zealand. And I totally DESTROYED our last recording session and it was REALLY GOOD I’m Robyn Fleming, a parent and writer in Tucson, Arizona. If I eat too many walnuts, my gums bleed. I’m Carla M. Lee, an author, artist, and attorney living in the Midwest USA, in October, I went shopping for a giant inflatable donkey for a Christmas display. For work. Yes, I’m still a corporate attorney. In-house lawyering is great.. and I love everyone in this metaphorical bar
Production notes: We fixed the previous issue with the popping and cutting out in Robyn’s recording. Yay! And promptly ran into another issue where there is now a faint echo in her recording. Boo. Working on that resolution now, but we recorded a few episodes before we realized it was happening. Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss the trapped in a cabin (forced proximity) trope. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who We Are I’m Carla M. Lee, an author, artist, and attorney living in the Midwest USA, and I’ve trapped myself in a cabin (also known as my studio) to avoid the cold and the snow. I’m Karen Healey, an author and teacher living in Otautahi New Zealand, and I’m coming to you LIVE from my mother’s house in Oamaru. (not actually live) I’m Robyn Fleming, a parent and writer in Tucson, Arizona, and two nights before my wedding I got trapped in an elevator with Karen Healey – but, not being fictional persons, we didn’t make out. I love everyone in this metaphorical bar!
Production notes: Karen had some recording issues this time and her volume fades in and out a little. Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss writing groups. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who We Are I’m Robyn Fleming, a parent and writer in Tucson, Arizona. One of my eyes is nearsighted, and the other is farsighted! I’m Carla M. Lee, an author, artist, and attorney living in the Midwest USA, and once I worked as legal counsel for a bigfoot hunter. I’m Karen Healey, an author and teacher living in Otautahi New Zealand, and I have never been part of a physical writing group.
Production notes: Robyn had some recording issues. There are a few minor places where she’ll drop a word or two and some popping noises. We apologize and are working on making sure this doesn’t happen in future recordings. (However, we’ve recorded several episodes prior to editing this, so there may be issues in the next few podcasts as well. Where possible, I’ll note anything big that is missing.) Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss fake marriage, a bulletproof trope. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who We Are I’m Karen Healey, an author and teacher living in Otautahi New Zealand, and I’m into perfume now. I’m Robyn Fleming, a parent and writer in Tucson, Arizona. I once fell into a cactus! It was terrible. I’m Carla M. Lee, an author, artist, and attorney living in the Midwest USA, I once nearly broke my neck saving my dog from a spider and I love everyone in this metaphorical bar.
Content: Opens with some lightly descriptive talk about oral surgery. Production notes: Karen and Robyn both serenade Carla during the Ask Your Friendly Neighborhood Bartender, because they are amazing. Robyn had some recording issues. There are a few minor places where she’ll drop a word or two and some popping noises. We apologize and are working on making sure this doesn’t happen in future recordings. (However, we’ve recorded several episodes prior to editing this, so there may be issues in the next few podcasts as well. Where possible, I’ll note anything big that is missing.) Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss fake marriage, a bulletproof trope. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who We Are I’m Carla M. Lee, an author, artist, and attorney living in the Midwest USA and I’m pretty much fake married. I’m Karen Healey, an author and teacher living in Otautahi New Zealand, and I spent over $300 on bras this morning - and not that many of them. I’m Robyn Fleming, a parent and writer in Tucson, Arizona. I have between four and eight fewer teeth than everyone else in this podcast! I love everyone in this metaphorical bar
Content: Some discussion of trauma and toxic parents. Brief mention of suicide attempt in fiction around the 33 minute mark. Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss parental relationships. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who we are: I’m Carla M. Lee, an author, artist, and attorney living in the Midwest USA and my mom and dad are my sister’s grandparents. I’m Karen Healey, an author and teacher living in Otautahi New Zealand, and I MCd a NZ poetry day competition where I formatted the instructions as a sestina. I’m Robyn Fleming, a parent and writer in Tucson, Arizona. I had to make up a song about bandaids last week, and my three-year-old critiqued my meter. Note from Carla: Robyn had some recording issues. There are a few minor places where she’ll drop a word or two and some popping noises. We apologize and are working on making sure this doesn’t happen in future recordings. (However, we’ve recorded several episodes prior to editing this, so there may be issues in the next few podcasts as well. Where possible, I’ll note anything big that is missing.) Due to these recording issues, we lost a chunk of the discussion around traumatic and/or difficult relationships with their parents and segue quickly into complicated relationships between parents and their adult children.
Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss the bulletproof trope enemies to lovers. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who we are: I’m Karen Healey, an author and teacher living in Otautahi New Zealand, and I spent $400 on books last weekend. I’m Robyn Fleming, I write and Mom in Tucson, Arizona, and I can break bricks with my bare hands. I’m Carla M. Lee, an author, artist, and attorney living in the Midwest USA and I recently explored a run-down, abandoned manufacturing building that had a weird little house inside, and I did it as part of my job as a lawyer -- never got to do that at a law firm. I love everyone in this metaphorical bar! Note from Carla: Robyn had some recording issues. There are a few minor places where she’ll drop a word or two and some popping noises. We apologize and are working on making sure this doesn’t happen in future recordings. (However, we’ve recorded several episodes prior to editing this, so there may be issues in the next few podcasts as well. Where possible, I’ll note anything big that is missing.)
Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss worldbuilding in second world fantasy. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who We Are Robyn Fleming: I write and wrangle children in Tucson Arizona, and I have spent objectively way too much time with flatworms. Carla M. Lee: An author, artist, and attorney living in the Midwest USA and when I drove past a graveyard this morning, my dog started barking at nothing at all. I think she’s warning me about the black dog. Karen Healey: An author and teacher living in Otautahi New Zealand, and I outed myself to a staff meeting last week. Note from Carla: Robyn had some recording issues. There are a few minor places where she’ll drop a word or two and during her definition of second world fantasy (about 18 minutes into the episode), a chunk of her definition, including the first part of an example, were lost. We apologize and are working on making sure this doesn’t happen in future recordings. (However, we’ve recorded several episodes prior to editing this, so there may be issues in the next few podcasts as well. Where possible, I’ll note anything big that is missing.)
Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss what they wish they knew about reading any number of years ago. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who are we? Carla M. Lee: An author, artist, and attorney living in the Midwest USA with my partner and ridiculous dog. Karen Healey: An author and teacher living in Christchurch, New Zealand with my awesome flatmate and an overgrown herb garden. Robyn Fleming: I write, parent, and sometimes teach martial arts in Tucson, Arizona. My five year old is internet famous for asking whether our country is named after Captain America, which probably tells you everything you need to know about our household.
Authors Robyn Fleming, Karen Healey, and Carla M. Lee discuss what they wish they knew about writing any number of years ago. Summary of the episode and all show notes can be found at ThisMetaphoricalBar.com. Who are we? Carla M. Lee: An author, artist, and attorney living in the Midwest USA with my partner and ridiculous dog. Karen Healey: An author and teacher living in Christchurch, New Zealand with my awesome flatmate and an overgrown herb garden. Robyn Fleming: I write, parent, and sometimes teach martial arts in Tucson, Arizona. My five year old is internet famous for asking whether our country is named after Captain America, which probably tells you everything you need to know about our household.
6 September 2017 | WORD Christchurch Shifting Points of View in association with Christchurch Arts Festival Following a performance of Jane Eyre: An Autobiography with Rebecca Vaughan, sit back and enjoy dark tales of gothic houses, damaged men, plucky heroines and secrets lurking in attics. What is the enduring appeal of the gothic women of literature? Who are the forgotten women, and the doppelgangers? An actor, a novelist and a librarian share their views, their favourite heroines, and improvise their own tales of women with great hair fleeing gothic houses. Rebecca is joined by Karen Healey and Moata Tamaira, chaired by Rachael King.
26 August 2016 | WORD Christchurch Festival What a time to be a teenager. An award-winning New Zealand novel, Into the River, which depicts the reality of teen sex, faces outcry and a temporary ban, yet there is infinite access to often unrealistic and misogynistic online pornography. YA novelists Ted Dawe and Karen Healey, and sexual therapist Frances Young, with chair Mandy Hager, discuss what young adults can handle and gain from sex in literature. Do books with sexual themes promote empathy and provide a safe space for teens to explore dangerous situations? Or are we sending our kids straight to hell?
It all comes down to this! The love of a middle school girl get weighed against all the rewards of the Dark Kingdom as we sort out the Nephrite/Naru situation once and for all! Hey...we never discussed their couple name...I am thinking "Narite"? That or "Nephru". Anyway, everything BUT that will be discussed with writer Karen Healey and put to be once and for all this week!
It's been simmering in the last few episodes, but in this episode and the next, the Naru/Molly and Masato Sanjoin/Maxfield Stanton/Nephrite/Nephlite plot finally comes to a rolling boil! First up, how can Usagi tell her bestie she has a crush on an evil mineral man from under the ground? Thankfully, Jordan and Chris are re-joined by writer Karen Healey to work it all out! They'll solve this, right?
Who's afraid of creepy "French" dolls? It turns out, almost everyone...except the characters on Sailor Moon, for some reason. That's right--the creepy dolls are not the threat this week, they're just there to up the stakes for aneight-year-old's love story. Jordan and Chris are again joined by terrific author Karen Healey to wade into Shingo's romance...and the horrifying poppets that accompany it.
Did someone say "Scouts on Film"? That's right--this episode Usagi/Serena gets the modeling bug, and we alternately learn that beauty is more than what's on the outside, that Serena brays like a hyena, and that she is more beauiful than any other girl, depending on which version we're discussing. Thankfully, we are joined by the terrific author Karen Healey to sift through the nonsense! Join us, won't you?
Karen Healey - educator, advocate, and author of astonishing YA novels like "When We Wake" and the newly-released sequel "While We Run" - returns to the Big Chair at the Roundtable to catalyze our brainstorming efforts into a maelstrom of awesomeness with her storytelling mojo (spoilers: she succeeds). Joined by the eloquent and insightful Katie Bryski (author of Hapax, numerous short tales, AND a children's opera), the stage is set for a fabulous story workshop.
Author, educator, and articulate advocate of comics (and so much more), Karen Healey brings an astonishing voice and perspective to the writer's craft. Her passion for storytelling is deeply rooted in the connections it forges between people, cultures, and histories. Her work has been lauded many times, including the 2011 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best New Talent and includes "Guardian of the Dead", "The Shattering", "When We Wake", and its sequel "While We Run". In addition to her delicious prose and richly-drawn characters, Karen brings a fierce integrity and commitment to the truth that underlies each of her stories.
The Unheard Voices of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror panel from Arisia. Catherine Lundoff moderated this panel, with K. Tempest Bradford (standing in for Nisi Shawl), Julia Rios, Trisha Wooldridge, Andrea Hairston, and Victor Raymond. Listening to this doesn't give you the visual cues that people in the room had, so a note up front: Nisi was in the audience, but wasn't up for sitting on the panel. There was an ongoing joke about Tempest being Nisi, and about Nisi being Nalo Hopkinson, who was not at the convention. Awards season!*Lambda finalists include lots of OA members like Nicola Griffith, Sacchi Green, Mary Ann Mohanraj, Alex Jeffers, Alaya Dawn Johnson, The editors and contributors to Ghosts in Gaslight, Monsters in Steam Gay City: Volume 5, Melissa Scott and Amy Griswold, Richard Bowes, Lee Thomas, and more. Full list here: http://www.lambdaliterary.org/features/news/03/06/26th-annual-lambda-literary-award-finalists-announced/*The Nebula nominee list is also out, and lots of OA types are there too, including Sofia Samatar, Nicola Griffith, Ellen Klages and Andy Duncan, Vylar Kaftan, Catherynne Valente, Christopher Barzak, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Sarah Pinsker, Rachel Swirsky, Karen Healey, and Nalo Hopkinson. Full nominee list here: http://www.sfwa.org/2014/02/2013-nebula-nominees-announced/The Galactic Suburbia Award and Honor List is out now, and the joint winners are N.K. Jemisin and Elise Matthesen. Full Honor List here: http://galactisuburbia.podbean.com/2014/03/23/episode-96-19-march-2014/*Carl Brandon Society is a group for fans and writers of color. They give out the Kindred and Parallax Awards for fiction by and/or about people of colors, and also administer scholarships for students of color to attend Clarion.*Broad Universe is a group for women who write and publish science fiction and fantasy. They have a website, a podcast, and many promotional and support networking opportunities for members, including organizing group readings and book sale tables at conventions. *WisCon is a feminist science fiction convention held each year at the end of May in Madison, Wisconsin. The Carl Brandon Society and Broad Universe both have strong presences there. *Con or Bust is an organization that raises money to send fans of color to conventions. The Carl Brandon Society administers the funds. *Gaylaxicon and Outlantacon are conventions specifically for the QUILTBAG SF fandom community. Gaylaxicon is a roving con (like WorldCon), and Outlantacon happens each year in May in Atlanta. This year's Gaylaxicon will be hosted by Outlantacon.Work by people on the panel:*Filter House is Nisi Shawl's Tiptree Award Winning short story collection (Tempest joked that her collection would be called Filter House 2).*Redwood and Wildfire is Andrea Hairston's Tiptree Award Winning novel (for which she had also just received a Carl Brandon Award on the day of this panel).*Silver Moon is Catherine Lundoff's novel about menopausal werewolves*Catherine writes a series about LGBT SFF for SF Signal.*Julia is an editor for Strange Horizons, which is always interested in publishing diverse voices.*Kaleidoscope is an anthology of diverse YA SF and Fantasy stories Julia is co-editing with Alisa Krasnostein, which is scheduled to launch in August of 2014.*In Other Words is an anthology of poetry and flash by writers of color Julia is co-editing with Saira Ali, which is scheduled to launch at WisCon in May, and which will benefit Con or Bust.Other things mentioned: *Lorraine Hansberry was an African American lesbian playwright, best known for Raisin in the Sun, but Andrea pointed out that she also wrote a lot of science fiction plays. *The SFWA Bulletin incited a lot of pushback in 2013. Here is a timeline: http://www.slhuang.com/blog/2013/07/02/a-timeline-of-the-2013-sfwa-controversies/. It has since changed editorial staff and has just put out the first of the new team's issues, which seems to be a lot more favorably received, as evidenced here: http://www.jasonsanford.com/jason/2014/03/the-new-sfwa-bulletin-is-blowing-my-mind.html.*"The Serial Killer's Astronaut Daughter" by Damien Angelica Walters was written partly in response to the SFWA bulletin's sexism. *A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar came up as an example of a novel by a person of color put out through an independent (not one of the big New York houses--Andrea argued for calling these sorts of publishers independent rather than small) publisher, Small Beer Press. Since the panel, A Stranger in Olondria has won the Crawford Award and been nominated for the Nebula. *Crossed Genres, Twelfth Planet Press, and Papaveria Press are independent presses that publish diverse voices.*Clarkesworld, Lightspeed, Strange Horizons, and Apex are magazines Tempest sees publishing diverse stories. Tor.com is also publishing more diverse stories now, like "The Water That Falls on You From Nowhere" by John Chu. *The Tiptree Award celebrates work that expands our notions of gender.*Dark Matter is an anthology exploring a century of SF by black writers. *Blood Children was an anthology put out by the Carl Brandon Society in 213 to benefit the Octavia Butler Scholarship, which sends students of color to Clarion. *Bending the Landscape, Kindred Spirits, and Worlds Apart were brought up as examples of QUILTBAG anthologies from more than just a few years back. All of these were mentioned as early examples, but the panel agreed we need more. *Daughters of Earth is a collection of stories by women from the early 1900s to 2000 with accompanying critical essays. This collection is edited by Justine Larbalestier. Andrea wrote a critical essay about an Octavia Butler story in this book. *The Cascadia Subduction Zone has a feature where an established writer recommends and reviews an older work that might be obscure. Andrea and Nisi have both done this. *Lethe Press publishes best gay SF stories each year in Wilde Stories, and best lesbian SF stories each year in Heiresses of Russ. Nisi and Julia are both in Heiresses of Russ 2013.*From the audience, Saira Ali recommends Goblin Fruit and Stone Telling as diverse poetry magazines, and Aliens: Recent Encounters (edited by Alex Dally MacFarlane) as a good anthology.
Gillian Daniels, Emily Wagner, Adam Lipkin, Victor Raymond join Julia Rios talk about QUILTBAG YA in this panel from Arisia.Gillian blogs for New England Theatre Geek and the Analytical Couch Potato and eatyourbooks.blogspot.com. Emily is a YA Librarian and the programming chair for Readercon.Adam reviews YA books for Publishers Weekly.Victor is a professor of sociology, activist, and founding member of the Carl Brandon Society. Victor Jason Raymond on Facebook. Material For Class Tumblr is coming soon.Julia is the host of this podcast, and is co-editing an anthology of diverse YA SF and fantasy called Kaleidoscope.Things mentioned in the panel:*Flying Higher: an anthology of superhero poetry--all the panelists have poems in this, and it is free.*Malnda Lo's books (Lesbian characters without being problem novels)*Beauty Queens by Libba Bray (good trans character, bi character who is also disabled, complex relationships, very good audiobook version)*If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan (two girls in love in Iran)*The Weetzie Bat series by Francesca Lia Block*Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein (as an example of a classic YA book where diversity--in this case race--is played down, so the character reads as white to a lot of people)*The Shattering by Karen Healey (and a blanket recommendation for Karen Healey in general, and Guardian of the Dead has a good asexual character)*The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black (trans character)*AO3 (Archive Of Our Own--a fanfiction website where Emily sees teens going to write their own fix it fics. If they like a story and are disappointed about the representation, they will transform it themselves.)*Cassandra Clare, Sara Rees Brennan, Naomi Novik, Lois McMaster Bujold (authors who got their start in fanfic and/or still write fanfic after being professionally published)*Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (as an example of something where the issue of othernerss--in this case race--is so highlighted that the person portrayed as other must be presented as perfect)*The Nightrunner Series by Lynn Flewelling *The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien (Teen #1 in audience read and liked it for the adventure)*The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Teen #2 read and loved this because it didn't try to romanticize death, but was blunt and direct)*Fanfiction! (Teen #3 is following over 150 fanfics right now and loves Once Upon a Time fanfic because, "The show is so terrible, but the fanfic is so good!")*The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson (SF in future Brazil with a polyamorous relationship with QUILTBAG characters and characters of color)*Marco Impossible by Hannah Moscowitz (mainstream gay book for middle school age readers)*My Most Excellent Year A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger (another mainstream book with 9th grade protagonists, one of whom is gay)*The Circle of Magic series by Tamora Pierce (to start with one character has two moms, and later one of the main characters is bi. These are good because they start young and get older, so goo books to grow with)*Ultraviolet by R. J. Anderson (Audience recommended, but then did not want to spoil it, so I'm unsure why exactly it was recommended)