A OK Podcast

This is it - the final episode! Thank you so much to everyone for listening and supporting A OK. It was such an honor to host this podcast. Keep being amazing.

Warnings: swearing

 

Courtney's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qwartney

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Shane (he/him) is an animator and YouTuber who is demisexual and demiromantic. Shane talks about his experiences as someone who is both demisexual and demiromantic, his animated Dungeons and Dragons series on YouTube, and his own podcast called “Podcasts & Players.”

 

Warnings: swearing, mentions of porn, masturbation, and castration

 

Shane's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUTNGafHJVmonQtWXP3dESw

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Kay (she/her) is a BTS Army who is panromantic and asexual. Kay talks about discovering her asexuality, her experience in a sexually coercive relationship, and how BTS has been a positive influence on her life. 

 

Kay's fanfiction story: https://archiveofourown.org/works/20104624/chapters/47624020

 

Warnings: sexual abuse and coercion

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Shimona (she/her) is a curious human who is asexual. Shimona talks about struggling with being “a-okay” about her asexuality, preferring to live solo and child-free, and how that all intersects with her family-oriented religion.

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Marshall (he/him) is The Gentle Giant Ace, who identifies as asexual and aromantic. Marshall talks about his experience as a Black ace activist, growing up in the midwest, and photography!

 

Warnings: swearing

 

Twitter: @TheAceGentle

 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsw6zzoKlskACsfRs0sZ20g

Kelsey (they/them) is a writer and Alexis Rose enthusiast who is queer/gay and asexual. Kelsey shares their story of figuring out they’re asexual and nonbinary, their experience writing BIFL: The Series, and how much the show Sex Education means to them. 

 

Warnings: swearing, Sex Education spoilers

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Clawy (they/them) is an artist who is asexual and aroflux. Clawy talks about their experience discovering the term asexual, how their cultural upbringing intersects with asexuality, and their joy of writing. 

 

Warnings: mentions of aphobia

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Michael (he/they) is a music director who is cupiosexual and demiromantic. Michael talks about labels, their experience with evangelicalism, and writing for theater.

 

Warnings: religion, homophobia

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Angela Chen (she/her) is an author and writer who is asexual and biromantic. Angela talks about her upcoming book Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex.

 

Angela's book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ace-angela-chen/1136968395?ean=9780807013793

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Sorabeth (hen) is a florist who is aromantic and asexual. Sorabeth talks about crafts, being a florist, and dating!

 

Warnings: mentions of masturbation, sex, swearing

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

V (she/her) is a filmmaker who is asexual and heteroromantic. V talks about having haphephobia, being a director in Hollywood, and her love of wigs!

 

Warnings: mentions of fatphobia

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Ben (they/them) is a storyteller who is asexual, greyromantic, and nonbinary. Ben talks briefly about some of the struggles that Native Americans face, what it’s like to be married with kids as an asexual, storytelling, and building languages. 

 

Native American Rights Fund: https://www.narf.org/

Dr. Adrienne Keene: @NativeApprops

 

Some more great resources on twitter:

@indianCountry

@navajotimes

@_illuminatives

@180099native

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Juniper (she/her) is a college student and pinball player who is aromantic and bisexual. Juniper talks about her experience dating someone who is alloromantic, as well as how to play competitive pinball.

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Yasmin Benoit (she/her) is a model and aromantic and asexuality activist who is aromantic and asexual. Yasmin talks about #ThisIsWhatAsexualLooksLike, heavy metal, and Crime Science. 

 

To be fully transparent, this interview was recorded in mid-June. We reached out to Yasmin about adding a segment regarding the incident on Twitter, and after discussing possibilities, the A OK team decided to publish the episode as-is.

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Sarah Costello (she/her) is ace/aro, and Kayla Kaszyca (she/her) is demisexual/heteroromantic. Sarah and Kayla host the well-known podcast Sounds Fake But Okay. In this episode, we discuss their separate journeys discovering their identities, the three-year anniversary of Sounds Fake But Okay, quidditch, and papermaking. 

 

Kayla’s Papergram: @pridepaper

 

Warnings: mentions of transphobia, swearing, vomit imitation noise

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Nik (she/her) is a grey-asexual and demisexual University student. Nik talks about how it felt to discovery the term asexual, why it’s difficult to come out to her parents, and her love of corgis.

 

Warnings: mentions of homophobia

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Thay (she/her) is an asexual/demiromantic writer. Thay talks about how music, dancing, and writing all intersect with her asexuality.

 

Made-Man: Heroes Are Made: https://my.w.tt/nNberiMh97

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Ian (he/him) is an analyst, podcaster, and travel writer who identifies as asexual. Ian explains how helpful the split attraction model is for him, how kink feels separate from his sexuality, and traveling as the Barefoot Backpacker.

Blog: https://barefoot-backpacker.com/

Podcast: Travel Tales from Beyond the Brochure

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Rebecca (she/her) is a cat mom who identifies as arospec and asexual. Rebecca talks about the difficulty figuring out her romantic orientation, dating challenges, and her experience founding Arts Healing Hearts, a charity in Toronto, Canada.

 

Arts Healing Hearts: https://artshealinghearts.org/

Redemption Paws: http://redemptionpaws.org/

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

 

Organizations to Donate to:

ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/;

Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com/;

Black Visions Collective: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/; 

Black Women’s Blueprint: https://www.blackwomensblueprint.org/;

Campaign Zero: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/;

Color of Change: https://colorofchange.org/;

Grass Roots Law Project: https://www.grassrootslaw.org/;

LGBTQ Freedom Fund: https://www.lgbtqfund.org/;

Minnesota Justice Healing Network: https://www.minnesotahealingjusticenetwork.com/;

MN Fund Hub (@MNFundHub on Venmo): https://www.instagram.com/p/CA545NzlYy7/?igshid=1mmwhtr38zx2y; 

MPLS NAACP: http://www.mplsnaacp.org/;

NAACP: https://www.naacp.org/;

NAACP Legal Defense Fund: https://www.naacpldf.org/;

National Bail Fund Network: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfn-directory;

Reclaim The Block: https://secure.everyaction.com/zae4prEeKESHBy0MKXTIcQ2;

List of local Minneapolis organizations by Reclaim the Block: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yLWGTQIe3967hdc9RSxBq5s6KKZHe-3_mWp5oemd7OA/preview?fbclid=IwAR2O4n_VtcNoIyJQ9hoKoLbgz2BxsDVvMEpHQt8Zg1CXpYnGFzVB3eLdlMw&pru=AAABcp_Lno4*qTdCXtwQfeYVP204YSPOkw;

Chio (she/her) is a comic artist who identifies as asexual and greyromantic. Chio talks about creating comics, how labels can be helpful, and why romance is so hard to figure out.

 

Organizations to Donate to:

ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/;

Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com/;

Black Visions Collective: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/; 

Black Women’s Blueprint: https://www.blackwomensblueprint.org/;

Campaign Zero: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/;

Color of Change: https://colorofchange.org/;

Grass Roots Law Project: https://www.grassrootslaw.org/;

LGBTQ Freedom Fund: https://www.lgbtqfund.org/;

Minnesota Justice Healing Network: https://www.minnesotahealingjusticenetwork.com/;

MN Fund Hub (@MNFundHub on Venmo): https://www.instagram.com/p/CA545NzlYy7/?igshid=1mmwhtr38zx2y; 

MPLS NAACP: http://www.mplsnaacp.org/;

NAACP: https://www.naacp.org/;

NAACP Legal Defense Fund: https://www.naacpldf.org/;

National Bail Fund Network: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfn-directory;

Reclaim The Block: https://secure.everyaction.com/zae4prEeKESHBy0MKXTIcQ2;

List of local Minneapolis organizations by Reclaim the Block: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yLWGTQIe3967hdc9RSxBq5s6KKZHe-3_mWp5oemd7OA/preview?fbclid=IwAR2O4n_VtcNoIyJQ9hoKoLbgz2BxsDVvMEpHQt8Zg1CXpYnGFzVB3eLdlMw&pru=AAABcp_Lno4*qTdCXtwQfeYVP204YSPOkw;

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Raymond (he/him) is an LGBTQIA+ activist and erotica photographer who identifies as aromantic and queer fluid. Raymond talks about how being trans relates to how he figured out his orientation; how being a leatherboy intersects with his identities; and how the BDSM community emphasizes self love, consent, and healing. 

 

Warnings: mentions of abuse, swearing

 

Organizations to Donate to:

ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/;

Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com/;

Black Visions Collective: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/; 

Black Women’s Blueprint: https://www.blackwomensblueprint.org/;

Campaign Zero: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/;

Color of Change: https://colorofchange.org/;

Grass Roots Law Project: https://www.grassrootslaw.org/;

LGBTQ Freedom Fund: https://www.lgbtqfund.org/;

Minnesota Justice Healing Network: https://www.minnesotahealingjusticenetwork.com/;

MN Fund Hub (@MNFundHub on Venmo): https://www.instagram.com/p/CA545NzlYy7/?igshid=1mmwhtr38zx2y; 

MPLS NAACP: http://www.mplsnaacp.org/;

NAACP: https://www.naacp.org/;

NAACP Legal Defense Fund: https://www.naacpldf.org/;

National Bail Fund Network: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfn-directory;

Reclaim The Block: https://secure.everyaction.com/zae4prEeKESHBy0MKXTIcQ2;

List of local Minneapolis organizations by Reclaim the Block: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yLWGTQIe3967hdc9RSxBq5s6KKZHe-3_mWp5oemd7OA/preview?fbclid=IwAR2O4n_VtcNoIyJQ9hoKoLbgz2BxsDVvMEpHQt8Zg1CXpYnGFzVB3eLdlMw&pru=AAABcp_Lno4*qTdCXtwQfeYVP204YSPOkw;

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

David Jay (he/him) is the founder of AVEN and an ace activist, parent, and community organizer. David talks about his own experience discovering asexuality as a sexuality and not a disorder, how AVEN (The Asexual Visibility and Education Network) started, his journey as a third parent, and why aromantic relationships are awesome.

 

AVEN: www.asexuality.org

 

Organizations to Donate to:

ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/;

Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com/;

Black Visions Collective: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/; 

Black Women’s Blueprint: https://www.blackwomensblueprint.org/;

Campaign Zero: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/;

Color of Change: https://colorofchange.org/;

Grass Roots Law Project: https://www.grassrootslaw.org/;

LGBTQ Freedom Fund: https://www.lgbtqfund.org/;

Minnesota Justice Healing Network: https://www.minnesotahealingjusticenetwork.com/;

MN Fund Hub (@MNFundHub on Venmo): https://www.instagram.com/p/CA545NzlYy7/?igshid=1mmwhtr38zx2y; 

MPLS NAACP: http://www.mplsnaacp.org/;

NAACP: https://www.naacp.org/;

NAACP Legal Defense Fund: https://www.naacpldf.org/;

National Bail Fund Network: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfn-directory;

Reclaim The Block: https://secure.everyaction.com/zae4prEeKESHBy0MKXTIcQ2;

List of local Minneapolis organizations by Reclaim the Block: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yLWGTQIe3967hdc9RSxBq5s6KKZHe-3_mWp5oemd7OA/preview?fbclid=IwAR2O4n_VtcNoIyJQ9hoKoLbgz2BxsDVvMEpHQt8Zg1CXpYnGFzVB3eLdlMw&pru=AAABcp_Lno4*qTdCXtwQfeYVP204YSPOkw;

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Official George Floyd Memorial Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd;

Justice for Breonna Taylor: https://www.gofundme.com/f/9v4q2-justice-for-breonna-taylor;

In Memory of Tony McDade: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-tony-mcdade;

I Run With Maud (Ahmaud Arbery Fund): https://www.gofundme.com/f/i-run-with-maud;

Justice for David McAtee: https://www.gofundme.com/f/justicefordavidmcatee;

For James Scurlock’s Family: https://www.gofundme.com/f/for-james-scurlocks-family;

 

Organizations:

ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/;

Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com/;

Black Visions Collective: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/; 

Black Women’s Blueprint: https://www.blackwomensblueprint.org/;

Campaign Zero: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/;

Color of Change: https://colorofchange.org/;

Grass Roots Law Project: https://www.grassrootslaw.org/;

LGBTQ Freedom Fund: https://www.lgbtqfund.org/;

Minnesota Justice Healing Network: https://www.minnesotahealingjusticenetwork.com/;

MN Fund Hub (@MNFundHub on Venmo): https://www.instagram.com/p/CA545NzlYy7/?igshid=1mmwhtr38zx2y; 

MPLS NAACP: http://www.mplsnaacp.org/;

NAACP: https://www.naacp.org/;

NAACP Legal Defense Fund: https://www.naacpldf.org/;

National Bail Fund Network: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfn-directory;

Reclaim The Block: https://secure.everyaction.com/zae4prEeKESHBy0MKXTIcQ2;

List of local Minneapolis organizations by Reclaim the Block: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yLWGTQIe3967hdc9RSxBq5s6KKZHe-3_mWp5oemd7OA/preview?fbclid=IwAR2O4n_VtcNoIyJQ9hoKoLbgz2BxsDVvMEpHQt8Zg1CXpYnGFzVB3eLdlMw&pru=AAABcp_Lno4*qTdCXtwQfeYVP204YSPOkw;

 

Education:

Black Revolutionary Texts from Alijah Webb (@webbjalijah): https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/18y0_2wm85L113fVWYdgljq9uuIlmlbl3;

Justice in June Lesson Plan from Bryanna Wallace and Autumn Gupta (@autumn_bry): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H-Vxs6jEUByXylMS2BjGH1kQ7mEuZnHpPSs1Bpaqmw0/preview?pru=AAABcprdPWw*VqdZIggAtO_pcSbYVK1l4Q; 

An Anti-Racist Reading List by Ibram X. Kendi for NYT (@DrIbram): https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/books/review/antiracist-reading-list-ibram-x-kendi.html;

Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources by Anna Stamborski, Nikki Zimmermann, and Bailie Gregory: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PrAq4iBNb4nVIcTsLcNlW8zjaQXBLkWayL8EaPlh0bc/mobilebasic;

Anti-Racism Resources for White People: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BRlF2_zhNe86SGgHa6-VlBO-QgirITwCTugSfKie5Fs/preview?pru=AAABcpsa6cw*8jY8IGfWoGhQH-4joitfcg;

Reading for Racial Justice by University of Minnesota Press’s Library of Open-Access Titles: https://manifold.umn.edu/projects/project-collection/racial-justice;

Anti-Racism Resource Collection: http://www.resourcesharingproject.org/anti-racism-resource-collection; 

 

Black owned businesses:

Thread of black owned businesses from Alyssa D Silos (@Alythuh on twitter): https://twitter.com/Alythuh/status/1267846692482605057;

That Pride Shop: https://thatprideshop.com/;

Gothic Lamb: https://gothiclamb.com/;

Black owned businesses in the Twin Cities by Mpls St Paul Magazine: http://mspmag.com/arts-and-culture/black-owned-businesses-in-the-twin-cities/;

Ria Faustino (she/her) is an aspiring animator and full-time weeb who identifies as asexual and aromantic. Ria talks about her journey discovering her asexuality, her senior project, and Dungeons and Dragons.

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Ess (they/them) is a voice actor who identifies as asexual and aromantic. Ess talks about growing up in India, their previous misconceptions around marriage, and their journey to discovering their gender identity.

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Josh (he/him) is an engineering student in recovery who identifies as asexual and panromantic. Josh talks about his journey with recovery and how the split attraction model helped him come to terms with his asexuality.

 

Josh's bandcamp: https://joshispeachy.bandcamp.com/releases

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Ezra (he/him) is a cat dad who identifies as aromantic. Ezra talks about the importance of aromanticism in his life, not identifying under the split-attraction model, and his experience with witchcraft and tarot reading.

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Sherry (she/her) is a future law student who identifies as asexual and aromantic. Sherry responds to a list of arguments against aces and aros being in the LGBTQ+ community, pulled from a thread on A OK’s twitter page. 

 

Donate to the WHO/United Nations COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund here: http://tinyurl.com/DONATE6feet 

Watch the livestream on Saturday, May 2nd @ 11am PDT / 2pm EDT / 7pm BST here: http://tinyurl.com/WATCH6feet 

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Melissa Caruso (she/her) is a fantasy author who identifies as biromantic and asexual. Melissa talks about coming out to her husband and children, her secret to writing allosexual characters, and her upcoming book, The Obsidian Tower. 

 

AVEN (asexuality.org);

Empire of the Sand by Tasha Suri (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39714124-empire-of-sand);

Melissa Caruso's website: melissacaruso.net;

Melissa's Twitter: @melisscaru;

 

Donate to the WHO/United Nations COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund here: http://tinyurl.com/DONATE6feet 

Watch the livestream on Saturday, May 2nd @ 11am PDT / 2pm EDT / 7pm BST here: http://tinyurl.com/WATCH6feet 

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Chris (he/him) is an escape room enthusiast who is homoromantic graysexual. Chris talks about "getting comfortable with" asexuality, his experience dating, and his adventures in 60+ escape rooms.

 

Content Warnings: mentions of genital mutilation

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Erica Cameron (she/her) is a young adult author who identifies as WTF-romantic and asexual. Erica discusses her past marriage and divorce, aro and ace characters in literature, and the importance of roommates.

 

Erica's Website: http://byericacameron.com

 

Coming Up Aces (Asexual Q&A): http://byericacameron.com/wp/q-ace/

 

Content Warnings: swearing, divorce

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Daniel (he/him) is a YouTuber and engineer who is homoromantic and asexual. Daniel talks about his experiences dating allosexual men, his current long-distance relationship, and his YouTube channel Slice of Ace!

 

Warnings: swearing

 

Slice of Ace: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3vDNqa_MMGI43NAO2C-JJw

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Maddy (she/her and they/them) is a genderqueer music nerd who is greyromantic and bisexual. Maddy talks about changing labels, ethical non-monogamy, and an unexpected romantic experience after she had already embraced the term "aromantic."

 

Twin Cities Sirens: https://www.facebook.com/tcsirens/

 

Content Warnings: swearing, mentions of childhood sexual abuse

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Leo (he/him) is a medical student from Puerto Rico who identifies as quasiromantic and asexual. Leo talks about his experiences with women, what intimacy means to him, and why aces and aros are definitely LGBTQIA+.

 

Content Warnings: swearing

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Vincent Scott (he/him & they/them) is a writer who identifies as asexual and aromantic. Vincent talks about toxic masculinity, trends of sexuality throughout history, and his new novel!

 

Warnings: depression and social anxiety

 

Link to Vincent's Kickstarter campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thinkinginkpress/the-hereafter-bytes?ref=user_menu

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Laura (she/her) is a student and dancer in Finland who identifies as asexual and cupioromantic. She discusses wanting children as an asexual, why she’s still questioning her romantic orientation, and ace and aro book recommendations.

 

Content Warnings: none

 

Book Mentions: Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman, Radio Silence by Alice Oseman, Loveless by Alice Oseman, Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee, Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland, Tarnished are the Stars by Rosiee Thor, & Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann.

 

 

The Asexual and Aromantic Characters Database: https://www.obvibase.com/p/N7SD6v1F4mrVBWzV/?location=%7B%22type%22:%22table%22,%22databaseId%22:%22N7SD6v1F4mrVBWzV%22,%22queryPath%22:%7B%22recordPath%22:[],%22columnPath%22:[%221%22]%7D%7D

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Rowan (they/them) is a tarot reader and hairstylist who identifies as demisexual and greyromantic. Rowan talks about their ultimate dream-relationship, why they masturbate, tarot reading, paganism, and witchcraft!

 

Content warnings: mentions of sex, masturbation, swearing

 

LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/9Pwpz7QpifbvniUBA

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Christy (they/them & she/her) is a movement artist with disabilities who identifies as grey-aro and grey-ace. Christy talks about the stereotypes that come with being an asian femme poledancer and a disabled aromantic asexual. They also describe visible vs invisible parts of identity, sexual attraction vs sexual desire, and how sex education can be improved.

 

Content Warnings: mentions of sexual trauma and racism

 

Christy's Instagram: @catwoman_chris (includes censored nudity)

 

LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/9Pwpz7QpifbvniUBA

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Gwen Elledge (she/her) is an astronomy nerd and jock who identifies as asexual and biromantic (but usually just says gay). Gwen talks about changing labels, being touch-starved, Tinder, and the wonders of gravity. 

 

Content Warnings: none

 

LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/9Pwpz7QpifbvniUBA

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Devon (they/them) is a Japanese translator who identifies as asexual, aromantic, and agender. Devon discusses role-playing as identity exploration, sex and romance as the focal point in western music, and why they are looking forward to starting estrogen.

 

Content Warnings: swearing and mentions of racism, aphobia, and transphobia

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Dean D’Monic is ace, agender, and known as the Shapeshifter of the Twin Cities. We talk about what it means to be an ace advocate, what it’s like to perform at the Renaissance Festival and in drag shows, and Dean’s late husband.

 

Follow Dean D'Monic on YouTube (Dean D’Monic) and Twitter (@dean_d_monic)!

 

Content Warnings: swearing

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Caitlin (they/them) is a crafter who identifies as asexual and panromantic (or maybe biromantic). Caitlin talks about being autistic and asexual, what they want in a relationship, and representation in season two of Sex Education on Netflix.

 

Content Warnings: swearing

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

John Arrow (he/him) is a second-grade teacher and fem slash convention organizer who identifies as bisexual/queer and aromantic. John and Courtney bond over their experiences trying to date as aromantic people, and John talks about representation, ace and aro headcanons, and his friend's YouTube series (BIFL) featuring asexual and aromantic characters.

 

Watch BIFL: https://www.bifltheseries.com/watch-now

 

Content Warnings: swearing

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Janet (she/her) is a retired I.T. manager who identifies as asexual. Janet reflects on her past marriages, tells us a bittersweet love story between herself and a married woman, and tries to figure out how to proceed with life now as a 72 year-old asexual.

 

Warnings: detailed descriptions of french kissing, swearing, masturbation, mentions of sex and bodily fluids.

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Sophie Katz (she/her) is a writer who identifies as panromantic and demisexual. Sophie points out the parallels between anosmic and asexual experiences, explains how growing up Jewish prepared her for certain challenges, and reminisces about what it was like to write for Disney.

 

Content Warnings: swearing, antisemitism

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Graham (they/them) is your best friend who identifies as demiromantic/queer, and who is also questioning their asexuality. Graham explains how they can tell the difference between romantic feelings versus how they feel pre-romance. Courtney and Graham also discuss how society ties together sexuality and body image, and how Graham’s journey with their own body has changed.

 

Content Warnings: mentions of trauma, swearing

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Joci (she/her) is a poet and artist who realized she was aromantic and asexual at age 46. Joci talks about her time studying at a bible college nicknamed “bridal college,” aphobia in the Christian community, and a marriage proposal that went right over her head.

 

Content Warnings: aphobia, large focus on Christianity and faith.

 

Resources: Aven: The Asexual Visibility & Education Network, Wee3beasties feline rescue. 

 

Special Thanks:

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Jim (he/him) is a maker and engineer who identifies as asexual and heteroromantic. Jim explains how Dungeons and Dragons helped him realize he was asexual. Courtney and Jim also go into the pressures society places on cis het men to engage in sexual activities.

 

Content Warnings: swearing, mentions of masturbation

 

Special Thanks:

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Jude (she/her) is an author who identifies as anegosexual and "historically" romantic. She explains what it's like to be asexual in a long-term marriage with someone who is allosexual, the complexities of coming out to her children, and what an "ace happy ending" might look like.

 

Jude's book: Body Parts and Mind Games

 

Content Warnings: aphobia

 

Special Thanks:

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Episode Transcript:

As you may have seen announced on the A OK twitter page, we don't have a new interview this week. I sincerely apologize for skipping this week, especially as I know that the holiday season is ramping up, which I know is the hardest time of year for many in the LGBTQIA community. That being said, I wanted to take a moment to remind you that being you is not a bad thing. You are wonderful, and you are valid, and you are seen. Please remember to be kind to yourself, and do whatever you need to do to make it out of the next few months in one piece. Being under the asexual and aromantic umbrellas can be tough, but we've got this. You've got this. I really do think of you all as friends, and as a community I never really felt like I had before. Thank you so much for being here and for being you.

 

Special Thanks:

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde (www.sofilalonde.com); 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler (www.ratsandchildren.co); 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!