Peace by Piece

Join us for a very special episode of our podcast Peace by Piece, where we chat with law students Catherine Avrutin and Anna Shin, as well as supervising attorney Anju Fujioka, to talk about memory loss, trauma, intoxication, and sexual assault trials. How does memory loss and trauma impact a trial? What biases around intoxication might show up for the judge or jury? What do survivors need to know about moving through a legal process? You won’t want to miss this one!

Today’s episode I have the honour of talking with Ro, Vida and Jashen on what it means to be black, past, present, future. No one experience can represent a full group, but today they were generous in sharing what it means to them to be black in Canada and why black history month (still) matters. Linking black oppression and gender-based violence, naming specific changes needed, and offering concrete books & thinkers to follow, this conversation is one you will want to add to your podcast list this month. As always, if you have any feedback please reach out to education@anovafuture.org or connect with us via our socials.

BDSM can be so much more than what you do in the bedroom. Kink can be playful, supportive, intimate, liberating, and community-based. Our Host AnnaLise talks to Mx Eve and Dreamy about the expansiveness of kink and its connection to queerness and queer spaces.

Contrary to popular belief, the A in LGBTQIA+ does not stand for ally. In our hyper-sexualized world that puts romance on a pedestal, asexuality and aromanticism are frequently forgotten and misunderstood. Join us as we chat with Heidi about queerplatonic relationships, couple’s privilege, and the challenges and joys of being aro/ace.

Have you ever wondered about polyamory? In this episode I chat with Jacob about polyamory and the abundance of love that is possible when we step off the relationship escalator and build intentional relationships with respect, openness, and lots of communication.

July is Pride in London! Pieces of Pride is a special mini season of our Peace by Piece podcast where we’ll be talking about who is included in Pride, who gets left out, and why. Whose identities are made palatable by mainstream narratives, and whose are excluded, disparaged, or just plain ignored? This first episode is a conversation between host AnnaLise and her wife, Holly. They discuss how we’ve had marriage equality for almost two decades now, have by many measures achieved gay inclusion, and how when people think of gay folks now, they think of AnnaLise and Holly’s life: two white women, married with a kid and a house and dog and porch to sip wine on. They discuss how this is homonormativity, and how even though they encounter issues and exclusion, even though the world is still not built for them, they are the goal of so much of Pride organizing. But there are so many other ways of queer living and queer loving that are not palatable to mainstream, that are not understood or recognized. Ways of queer being for which there is no straight counterpart, no direct translation. These will be the focus of the following 3 episodes this month. Stay tuned!

Abortion has been legal in Canada for more than 30 years but it is still a strangely taboo topic in our culture. Robyn Schwarz, a local activist for reproductive justice in SW Ontario, offers us a practical understanding of Canadian abortion laws, and the realities of navigating reproductive healthcare in our current culture. An open conversation that supports informed decision making for us as individuals and as advocates for accessible healthcare. Content warning: this episode discusses not only abortion but pregnancy loss.

When we witness gender-based violence it can be tricky to know how to respond, even when we really want to help. Using the 5 D’s of Bystander Intervention, this episode offers practical tools to help identify when and how to respond in a way that is safe and supportive. We all have a part to play in creating a culture of accountability that doesn’t tolerate acts of gender based violence.

Content warning: this episode contains references to sexual assault from the perspective of a perpetrator We cannot end sexual violence without working with those who cause harm, the perpetrators themselves. In this episode, our host Dr AnnaLise Trudell has a raw and at times emotional conversation with a man who has perpetrated sexual violence. Using Mia Mingus’s four-part model of accountability, they discuss the ongoing process of self reflection, what apology and repair looked like it in his particular case, and how he moves forward with changed behaviour. They also work through some messiness and nuance around “cancel culture”, and discuss his decision to come forward for this interview while remaining anonymous. This is a heavy episode. You will hear both the guest and our host process through some difficult concepts and emotions. Accountability, like healing, is a journey rather than a destination. We invite you to sit with us in the messiness of this process, but we also want to remind you to take care of yourself.

Content warning: this podcast contains references to sexual assault. May is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and this can’t be missed episode will help you gain a better understanding of the issue, the causes and the prevention tactics that work (and those that don’t). 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men will be sexually assaulted at some point in their lives. If you need help, we’re here for you. Call our 24/7 Crisis and Support Line: 519-642-3000

Period, that time of the month, on the rag… whatever you call it, menstruation is when the lining of the uterus sheds and leaves the body through the vagina. While everyone who menstruates will experience it in their own way, each face many layers of inequity simply because they menstruate (hint – it’s way more than financial). Rachel Ettinger (she/her), is the founder and advocate of Here for Her, a social enterprise that focuses on menstruation education and awareness. We talk about why menstrual equity is essential, harmful myths and shame that persists around menstruation, and the impact these have on gender-based violence. This episode provides some tips and tricks on how you can help normalize menstruation.

Rape fantasies or ravishment fantasies involve acting out “non-consensual” sex (in a way that everyone has consented to). Are they normal? YES! Many people have them, of all genders. We talk about what ravishment fantasies are (consensual) and what they are not (harmful) and address some of the shame we may feel around having such desires. We leave you with some helpful tips and tricks to safely explore power play with consent communication. Disclaimer: At Anova, we support a world without gender-based violence and in no way condone sexual assault.

From “woke” to mainstream, the practice of offering your pronouns and respecting those of others still has its critics. This episode will skill you up for when you hear “we have gone too far” (insert eyeroll). Matthew Sereda (He / Him), Thames Valley District School Board’s Learning Coordinator for Equity and Inclusive Education (@MatthewSereda @TVDSBEquity), tells us how pronouns are being supported within the school system, the challenges with this work and what’s at stake if we don’t do this work well! Creating a future without violence by allowing individuals to determine their own gender identity and how they want to be addressed.

Embracing differences, learning to rethink weaknesses and strengths, inter-generational trauma and more. We are unpacking Encanto and telling you why we think this is a must see for kids (and adults)!

It's our last podcast of the year and you won’t want to miss it! Our guest is Joe Antone, the clinical lead for Biigajiiskaan: Indigenous Pathways to Mental Wellness, a program run in partnership between Atlohsa Family Healing Services and Parkwood Mental Health Institute. Joe talks openly about cultural safety for indigenous staff and how racism shows up in the workplace. Joe leave us with many concrete examples of actions to take in creating workplaces that feel safe and welcoming to all. About Joe Antone: Joe Antone MSW, RSW is Haudenosaunee from Oneida Nation of the Thames, and the clinical lead for Biigajiiskaan: Indigenous Pathways to Mental Wellness, a program run in partnership between Atlohsa Family Healing Services and Parkwood Mental Health Institute. Joe’s mixed ethnicity and lived experience allow him to operate through a “two-eyed seeing” lens, which enables him to effectively access and leverage both Indigenous and Western Knowledge bases in his work. Joe’s professional expertise centers around the concepts of justice and equity, and include Indigenous health and healing, systems change, organizational change, mental health and addictions, and community development. Joe has held roles at the clinical, management, and systems levels, which provides him with a multi-tiered and comprehensive understanding of how to apply equity and justice principles in organizations to improve health outcomes. Where to find Joe: Joe hosts a Pillar Non-Profit Workshop entitled, “How to Build A Culturally Safe Organization for Indigenous People.” Keep your eyes on www.pillarnonprofit.ca for the next course offering, to build on what you learn from the podcast.

This week we are talking sex work and addressing the myths and misconceptions about who does sex work and why, with Rosie Cheeks. Importantly, sex work entails a diversity of experiences and it’s difficult to frame sex work as inherently harmful or inherently liberating. Today’s conversation with Rosie offers insight and challenges many of our own biases about sex work. Rosie has been an online sex worker since 2019 and finds joy and creative fulfillment in their work. Anova believes that sex workers have the right to make decisions and take steps to do their work safely. We support the decriminalization of sex work. Read more about Anova’s position on sex work here: http://www.anovafuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Anova-Position-Statement-Sexwork-March-2019.pdf If you’re interested in helping to provide safety and support to sex workers and their allies in the London area, we recommend checking out SafeSpace London - www.safespacelondon.ca

Today, we are talking homelessness with housing stability & health equity researcher and professor at Western University, Abe Oudshoorn, RN, PhD. We start by defining what homelessness is, what causes it and explain how it is gendered. Abe provides us some insight on how women and nonbinary individuals are driven to homelessness for a variety of reasons, such as gender-based violence, and how they experience homelessness differently and exit it differently. We talk about strategies to end homelessness and what you can do to support those. They are probably different than you think!

November is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. When most people hear the words “abuse” or “domestic violence,” they think of physical or sexual violence. But the truth is, it can manifest in many other ways – ways that are difficult to recognize. On this bonus episode of Peace by Piece, Anova’s Public Education Coordinator, Allison Preyde talks about abuse and unhealthy relationship dynamics, and lists 8 red flags to keep a lookout for.

This week, we are talking about sexual harassment in the workplace. Our guest is lawyer and staunch advocate for justice, Susan Toth. Susan is a partner at the law firm of Polishuk, Camman & Steele and teaches courses related to the law at Brescia University College and Western University. Her advocacy work continues outside of courtrooms and classrooms as a board member of the Urban League of London and the Chair of the London Police Services Board. We begin by defining what sexual harassment in the workplace is and dive into what the law can do, what are the challenges, and how it is a gender equity issue. Our conversation contains practical advice and tools for workplaces. A reminder that, this season of the podcast encompasses a workplace curriculum called The Community of Peace. This episode in particular would be a great place to start. We have discussion questions to help you navigate the content and create moments for reflection and conversation. You can sign up to receive discussion questions for every episode by visiting: https://www.anovafuture.org/community-of-peace. Where to find Susan Toth Website: www.pcslawyers.com Twitter: @TothSusan

What do you do when someone tells you that they’ve experienced sexual violence? Get ready to skill up! Anova’s Public Education Coordinator, Allison Preyde is back on the podcast with disclosure training. We are walking you through an effective three-step response to disclosures and answer your questions about what is helpful, what is harmful and why. If you’re interested in learning more about disclosure training or would like to schedule a training, please email education@anovafuture.org