Samantha Paige & Lisa Field
Samantha Paige and Last Cut Photographer Lisa Field reflect on the second season of Last Cut Conversations. They discuss the universal threads shared across the many diverse conversations, and the notable moments that made a lasting impression as well. Each Last Cut Conversation continues to be unique and powerful in its own way, but each season also organically presents lessons that relate to us all. This season’s overarching theme was freedom, which was clearly defined by each guest uniquely and beautifully. These conversations highlighted the power of voice, creativity and vision in the healing process and as a means of activism and service in the world. We covered many powerful stories of trauma, loss and change, as well as our innate ability to overcome and inspire through our personal growth. Samantha and Lisa's conversation reminds us that while each of our stories differs in detail, we connect beyond the particulars through our humanity and common desires for love, connection and community.
SUSAN NICHOLS (EARTH DAY SPECIAL)
My dear friend, Susan Nichols, is one of those individuals who exemplifies #lastcutliving to the fullest. The founder and former CEO of Yogitoes and the creator of New Hippie, a platform that shares people, places and things aligning with the intelligence of nature, collectively creating a New Earth, Susan is a brilliant visionary, inventor and advocate for the planet. She is the Queen of eco-conscious living, and lives her pro-Mother Earth values in exemplary fashion. Whenever I want to know what is the most earth loving way to do something, I turn to Susan for her expertise. She does not cut corners in this realm. You will never hear or see Susan grab a plastic straw, styrofoam cup or plastic bag, offering "just this once," because it is more convenient. Her ongoing dedication to the planet is why she was my first choice for this special Earth Day interview. Below are Susan's insights on the environment, global warming, tips for greener living and inspiration to make the permanent switch from disposable to reusable. Thank you, Susan!
Who are you?
I am an emissary for Earth, nature, Women’s rights and our children’s future.
What do you do? What is New Hippie?
I invent, create and design sustainable products from how I live and see the World. New Hippie is currently a lifestyle blog sharing stories of people, places and things who live with the intelligence of nature.
When did you know you were here to be a voice for Mother Earth?
When I was five, I was at the beach with my family, and this man was leaving a 7-Eleven cup and straw behind. I went and picked it up. I then yelled out, “Excuse me! You left this behind, and it will go into the ocean if you don’t through it away.” I remember my Mom looking at me with a smile. I would say that is the first time I used my voice for Mother Earth.
How do you personally live in sync with the Earth?
I feel when we are in sync with ourselves, we are in sync with Earth. She’s not separate from us. From my thoughts, words, and actions to picking up trash I see when I go to the beach, or moving road kill from the middle of the road to a safe place, so another animal won’t get killed trying to get its meal, it is all connected. I eat clean. I know where my food comes from. I buy local. Little things from the way I grocery shop plastic free to when brushing my teeth, I turn off the water in between rinsing. I grow most of my vegetables, because I can. I compost. I do my best not to live a single use, disposable life style. It’s a balance. All of our little actions add up.
Why do we need to stop asking if global warming is a real thing?
People who still ask need to watch these documentaries: “Before the Flood” and “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power."
Why does the Earth need us to make changes?
Because there are 7.6 billion people and growing.
What are the top three things you think everyone should be doing to support the Earth?
1. Be mindful of every purchase you make. Understand what your money is supporting.
2. Understand that your thoughts, words and actions have a cause and effect, positive and negative.
3. Get to know your neighbor. Be a part of your community and support each other. Be a good person.
You embody your beliefs in a profound way. You walk the talk with eco-consciousness. What was the tipping point for you and this way of life?
When I had launched my first company, I created with the intention of sustainable economic development, social responsibility and a stewardship of the environment.
What are your favorite sources for learning more about eco-living, Earth friendly practices and the environment?
Actually, this is one point that I love social media for, because there are so many positive sources to follow. Bea Johnson who has @zerowastehome. There are so many non-profit organizations like Plastic Pollution Coalition and 5-Gyres. Search the hash tag "eco living” and it’s at your finger tips.
GINA MEI (WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY SPECIAL)
In honor of World Press Freedom Day, I reached out to writer Gina Mei, Editor at Shondaland.com, to talk about her take on freedom of expression, the power of storytelling and current issues up in the journalism sphere. She shares her own love of reading, writing and dialoguing, her views on the influence of social media on today's media landscape, and covers the timely topic of freedom of speech in today's political climate. Thank you, Gina, for taking the time to offer such powerful insight.
What do you do as an Editor at Shondaland? Is there such thing as a “typical day” -- if so, what does that look like?
I do a little bit of everything — I write stories, I assign stories that I’d love to see, and I work with writers to shape their stories into the best possible pieces they can be. I also help with the overall voice and direction of the site. In other words, figuring out: What should we be focusing on right now? Who should we be celebrating? What should we all know about, and how can we help?
There is definitely no such thing as a typical day at Shondaland.com. We’re a small team — and every single one of us is part writer, part editor, part art director, and part social media expert. It’s hectic but fun, and I’m so proud of what we’ve created.
When did you know you wanted to become a journalist? What made you choose this career?
I’m not sure if I’d call myself a journalist at the moment, as Shondaland.com tends to be more focused on responding to the news (hopefully in a thoughtful, helpful way), as opposed to reporting it directly. But generally speaking, I became a writer because I had no choice. I’ve always written. I tried to be something else, and it was terrible. So I found my way back, and have been writing ever since.
How do you choose what topics and individuals you wish to bring light to through your writing and content on Shondaland?
It’s a mix of what and whom we find interesting and relatable and smart and emotional and funny and useful and informative. But above all, we love to shed light on great storytellers —the people who have a story to tell, that often only they can tell. We want to lift up voices and stories that don’t always get the attention they deserve. We want to be a space for the misfits and the outsiders to thrive.
In Last Cut Project, we speak to our individual definition of freedom. What does freedom mean to you? How does that relate to your writing and the press?
Freedom, to me, is the ability to exist as I am without having to hide parts of myself out of fear for my personal safety. My writing is a means of expressing my identity, of pushing these fears aside in an attempt to connect with others who might relate to my experiences, people who might feel the same as I do. It’s a way of being seen and seeing others. I think good journalism does the same.
Access to a free, unbiased, and accurate press is fundamental to an informed society. In this way, good journalism can move society forward, because an informed public can form educated opinions; and ideally, this would lead to progress. But without good journalism, it isn’t possible. Journalists are invaluable — and as far as professions go, few are as essential and under-appreciated.
What does freedom of speech mean to you? What do you think is the greatest threat to free speech right now?
Well, it certainly doesn’t help that we have an administration that does everything in its power to undermine the press every single day, and that has worked to establish a deep distrust in the media simply because they report on facts that paint the president in a less-than-favorable light.
But I digress.
Aside from the obvious, I think one of the greatest threats to freedom of speech is a fundamental misunderstanding of what that phrase means. Freedom of speech is the freedom to say what you want without persecution in a court of law — not the freedom to say whatever you want without facing any consequences whatsoever for what you’ve said, or without someone disagreeing with you or challenging your views or, in some cases, not wanting to have anything to do with you because what you said was racist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic, or bigoted in some other way.
To me, freedom of speech is the freedom to express my opinions and beliefs, even if they’re wrong; and the freedom for others to do the same; and the freedom for both of us to learn and unlearn as a result.
Many feel that reporting has become editorialized and overly partisan. What are your thoughts on that statement? Who do you think is at the forefront of offering impartial news?
This question is interesting in light of the current debate over whether comedian Michelle Wolf crossed a line with her joke about Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders last weekend at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. (For the record, I don’t think so — she did not once actually criticize the press secretary’s appearance. She merely questioned her credibility, while complimenting her eye makeup.) The response to this “incident” has largely been split across party lines, with a few notable exceptions; but I think the best coverage has been straightforward, and has instead focused on a different part of Wolf’s speech. (Ahem.)
But more generally speaking, it bears repeating that NONE OF THIS IS NORMAL. We are in unchartered territory — and it’s easy to forget that. What might appear to be “partisan” journalism isn’t partisan at all if what’s being reported is fact and just happens to make one side look bad.
Furthermore, I definitely don’t think all journalism has become editorialized and overly partisan. I do think a lot of editorialized, partisan stories tend to get more traction — because we currently exist in a very divided political climate, and there is comfort in finding like-minded perspectives. Add social media to the mix, and it’s inevitable that some of those stories are going to get the spotlight a lot of the time.
No source has been perfectly impartial — although many have made conscious efforts to try to appear impartial by “balancing things out.” I still turn to the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the New Yorker for journalism. I start my mornings with NPR’s “Up First” podcast, and end my days with Crooked Media’s “What a Day” newsletter.
I am a huge proponent of bringing light to topics we are often told to push under the rug, and I feel that Shondaland has been great about doing that as well. What are the top three things you think we need to be talking more about in order to push change?
Only three?! That’s tough. Among so many other things, I think we need to talk more about trans equality, rights for sex workers, and decriminalizing marijuana.
How has social media changed journalism? Do you see the readily-available nature of information a good or a bad thing in today’s society?
There are pros and cons. I think social media has made the news cycle move much quicker, and that can be a good thing and a bad thing. It’s easier than ever to stay informed, but also easier than ever to be overwhelmed. With the possibility of information spreading faster than ever, there’s also the possibility of misinformation spreading faster than ever, too. And as we’ve seen through investigations into the 2016 presidential election, sometimes, it can be hard to distinguish between the two.
Social media has changed journalism in the same way it’s changed pretty much everything else. It’s changed how we communicate, how we interact with the news, how we interact with people. It puts the power in the hands of people to decide what stories they value most, and this effects what gets reported on in a deeper way.
It’s also interesting to see social media pick up on stories much faster than traditional news outlets — most notably regarding stories about systemic racism/police violence against unarmed black people. And then there are stories that only exist because of social media, whether as a result of one of the president’s inflammatory tweets or otherwise. Social media gave voice and power to the survivors of the Parkland shooting, allowed the #MeToo movement to thrive, and has held countless public figures accountable for their words. Social media has completely changed how we digest and interact with news, and journalism has had to adapt.
Juno Ishida & Eliza Hope Duran
Last May, Juno Ishida and Eliza Hope Duran joined Samantha Paige for an honest conversation about living beyond the construct of a gender binary. In this special episode, Juno, a trans male university student, and Eliza, a gender fluid prize-winning poet, share their views about the boxes that society places us in around our bodies, gender and sexuality. They highlight what it means to navigate life beyond the gender binary and add insight and perspective to the experience of expressing one’s identity in a manner that lines up who we are on the inside with who we are out in the world. This powerful discussion touches upon what it means to lead an authentic life, how we take care of ourselves and ask for needed support in the face of judgement and how we find inner strength and connection when external, societal beliefs can make us internalize doubt and unworthiness.
In light of the recent leak of President Trump’s memo regarding his administration’s plans to narrowly define gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth, the time is now to be discussing the historical and current violence that trans, gender non-conforming, non-binary and Intersex individuals have had and continue to endure on a daily basis.
Thank you to Juno and Eliza for bravely and boldly opening up with their own stories. Thank you to the Get Lit team for hosting the recording of this podcast at their Los Angeles studio. For more information on Get Lit, please visit getlit.org.
N.B.: During the recording, we refer to Eliza as Erika, which was the name they were using at the time. They have since adopted Eliza.
For more information on how to support transgender, non-conforming and Intersex individuals and communities, please check out this great blog post on Wildflower Sex.
It is our honor to share the following Los Angeles March for Trans and GNC Rights Mission Statement and Manifesto, and powerful writings from Marcus James, Djuna Appel-Riehle and Mika Judge. Thank you to each of them for the courage to share. Please read and share.
Los Angeles March for Trans and GNC Rights Mission Statement and Manifesto by Marcus James, Arlene Campa, and Djuna Appel-Riehle
MISSION STATEMENT
The Trump Administration is attacking trans, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary folks.
From micro-aggressions to murder, to be trans, gender nonconforming, or non-binary is to walk into the mouth of violence every morning and hope it will not swallow us whole. This is not new.
We come from a lineage of violence.
On November 2, 2018 at 4pm, we’re calling upon people of all genders to join us in marching from Pershing Square to City Hall in Los Angeles, California in recognition of the necessity for trans rights and protections. Our legislators will know that we are a generation that does not tolerate any form of assault --interpersonal or state sanctioned -- against people for their gender expression. Our legislators will know that we are deserving of equal access to healthcare, education and job security. Our legislators will know that they will be held accountable during elections if tangible protections are not made for trans, gender nonconforming and non-binary folks at risk. On November 2nd, join us in continuing the fight for the rights of our sisters, brothers and friends.
MANIFESTO
We believe...
1.Gender is a social construct that cannot be narrowed down by the genitalia that an individual is born with.
2.The summation of genitalia as gender-defining is an erasure and act of violence against Intersex folks.
3.Trans, Non-binary, and Gender Nonconforming folks are deserving of a life void of state sanctioned violence.
4.Trans, Non-binary, and Gender Nonconforming folks are deserving of equal access to healthcare, education, and job security as their cisgender counterparts.
5.Trans, Non-binary, and Gender Nonconforming folks are deserving of representation in a nuanced and intersectional fashion.
6.Trans, Non-binary and Gender Nonconforming folks are deserving of legislation that protects them from all forms of discrimination.
This is a Ghost Story by Djuna Appel-Riehle
my dinner table is the stomping ground of this year’s family reunion
i am forging a lifeline across it
my father traces a portrait of grief with his steady eyelids
he whispers to me, ghosts can’t tell stories
you are only as permanent
as all the things you can touch
as all the nerve endings in your fingertips
queer bodies and pavement swim circles in my psyche
they hold all the lives a church will cut from any cloth
that will tourniquet our tongues
not all of us are delivered to our mother’s doorsteps the way we want to be
not all of us will put on our best pride show pearls
for fear of being photographed in them
sometimes silence is not violence but the easiest way to stay whole
it is easier to brick yourself in than to demolish into escape route
another domestic disaster
here is a body
not good enough for outing
but good enough to get stuck in monster’s carcass
or stuck in a hallway painted into mouths full of microaggressions
i am the bitter grin and a name spit like ash; dread-soaked
i know myself better in power outage
most days it’s easier to live with the lights out
than to decompose into dysphoria
most days i’d rather swamp myself in blackout
than spell out my deadname
this won’t be the last time your name tastes sweet enough to spit back out
i am collapsing into this body
i am making an art of fashioning a dying star from circuit shortage
microagressions dancing from my lab partner’s lips in biology class
i spend days refracting into the innards of my locker
there is no equation to dissolve fear
i think doors look different with something to hide
home is a carnage of carcass foundation
we are told home and hear convenient storage
another place where we are suffocated under fingernails
it is more bitter to keep breathing just to spite someone
the feat is not in surviving another day
it is in proving to those who wish to cut you sterile and open
that they will not make examination out of your flesh
i am licking my lips clean of my own burial ground
i am swathed in ghost story
a letter written to the self that still holds their own wreckage
a wounded bird in their hands;
build spectre / built spectator
we wonder how many windows have flown open
and bluebirds shattered into dark pavement
So Marcus by Marcus James
When your family photos show dead face. Dead smile. Girl.
How are you gonna be a real man when you have a voice as gentle as early winter?
How are you gonna be a real man without any hair on your chest?
All I see are gardens
real men don’t know how to handle delicate.
Why are your hands not calloused like mine?
You've only ever known delicate.
How are you gonna be a real man when your hands shake in bathrooms?
Real men don’t bleed through boxers.
Real men don't sit to pee Marcus.
Stand up as if your back was an army of its own!
There's nothing more masculine than a man holding a gun!
No one is scared of you.
Why do you bring me flowers?
I did not ask for flowers
I did not ask for poems
I never asked for a boy.
Adam is Trans by Mika Judge
i’m a bit embarrassed about my name.
not the first one, that was never mine,
but the one i chose: (mika)
i’m not even sure it’s a real name, but
i say it's a nickname for michael, which means who is like god? the answer being no one
but if mika means god’s gift then maybe mika is the answer to the question asked by michael.
maybe all gifts are pieces of their givers
maybe we're all gifts and pieces of god
who understands having a thousand different names, even if they all sound right to him. even if they don’t chafe at his throat like fish bones, breadcrusts, and wicker baskets do.
i love that story. jesus makes enough food for thousands of people. enough to feed me all the days i have choked back my truth for benefit of others.
but adam would understand.
god told adam to name the animals, but adam only wanted to remake himself. but to do so would be betrayal: judas’ kiss, forbidden fruit blood running down his chin, it would be twisting bible verse to fit your own twisted mouth, as if adam saw the future and god hates you signs on street corners and believed them.
but when he can’t take it anymore he talks to god. he says, do you have, like, an HR department i can contact? i think there’s been a mix-up.
and god says nothing, so adam knows he knows, and adam says
i am so sorry
for being this way. for not being eve, mother of all things,
and the daughter you wanted.
but god says
i want you. you are my gift to the world and a piece of me
so adam says
then give me a tortoiseshell or snakescales to protect myself. i am so soft and so hated
god says
i am sorry for giving you this improbable body, but i know you, and your chosen name is all the exoskeleton you need
and i have loved you like a son since you first sucked in blue sky and spit out pink, since you first dug citrus tree thorns out of your palms and bled ocean water & sweet wine.
when you named your first beast WOLF “because she woofs” i knew it was terrible idea but i loved you anyways
and adam
you aren’t a fallen angel betraying me, you are just a man seeing himself clearly.
and adam stops crumbling back into earth, sunlight presses up to his collarbones from within even as night falls.
when he awakes the next morning, he finds nothing on his once shameful chest
except a row of flowers
growing where his twelfth rib used to be. and someone
is calling his true name through the trees.