In this episode, we talk about the freedom to enjoy pleasure in one's own way and what that might look like. Chas talks about the devotion that her younger self gifts to her older self given the fact that in any present moment, she is the youngest she is going to be for the rest of her life. Her older self likes that the bed is made in the morning so it’s a pleasure to get into at night and that her socks are folded right side out. Small pleasures compound.
Julia reiterates that it is almost impossible to give from empty having extracted energy from ourselves via work, family and childcare.
We agree that we can only give from full and discuss our ways of ‘filling up’. These can take the form of writing steps, practices and pleasure. We discuss the advantages of taking small sustainable steps with discipline and patience which in turn brings freedom and, of course, more pleasure!.
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26:44
EPISODE 14: Jada is our Queen
How Low Can You Go?
This week, we set out to create a podcast based on lighter material, but weightier subjects to hand would not allow it.
Chas, still shocked from experiencing extreme and unwarranted verbal abuse at work, brought that experience to the pre-recording table. That microcosmic incident came at a time that Meghan Markle was being strongly censured by the British press for speaking out about her treatment by them and members of the extended British royal family. The first news reports regarding the murder of Sarah Everard was breaking, with women paying their respects to her being strong armed by the police. And the attack and vilification of female leaders around the world was on the agenda of many discussion panels and talk shows.
In our podcast, Julia questions the aggressive shouting down of women or poc who dare to put themselves in the public sphere right in the face of the construct that dismisses their worries, fears and concerns. And we dare to come up with a possible solution to uphold these courageous people in solidarity and support.
Thanks for listening and for posting your comments and suggestions. Please keep them coming, we’re loving them.
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28:19
EPISODE 13: Jada is our Queen
In an attempt to focus on the positive and not get dragged into conversations about the emerging New World Order, Brexit or anything else depressing and potentially even frightening, Chas and Julia speak their use of gratitudes in life and practice.
They contemplate how gratitudes can be used as a bypassing tool too, taking us away from the fruits of skilfully navigating the down. And they suggest ways as to how we can skillfully navigate down turns in life and use them for increased personal power. They explore the everyday grit of how gratitudes can work person over time and how it is one of their favourite tools for inspiration. And how it is always the small, baby steps in a good direction that move us forward.
Chas gets up close and personal too - gratitudes are not just fluffy new age platitudes. She cites them as one of the main practices that brought her out of a suicidal depression.
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28:36
EPISODE 12: Jada is our Queen
Chas and Julia talk around the houses and ask difficult questions such as is the digitisation of life the penultimate act of colonisation? Is it leading us into a whole new era of slavery? Chas mentions how she has never really seen any of this go away, and how annoying it is when people who are accustomed to comfort are always shocked when episodes of racism are publicly aired. She was taught to efface the more jarring parts of her personality as a black woman in order to survive, and warns us that we really cannot walk quietly into darker times. Resistance and grace are paramount. We can at any point withdraw our consent.
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EPISODE 11: Jada is our Queen
Why is the feminine seen as being so dangerous? And what happens when we take a descent into that realm? Julia and Chas talk again around their favourite subject - desire - and hit some emotional depths with what it's meant for them in their lives. Why is feminine desire so feared and shamed? What does it take to suppress desire? Plus we also talk about the size of our collective bosom. Just because.
What happens when we create space across diverse experiences to create connection, understanding and mutual power? Jada is Our Queen is a podcast designed to do just this - by bringing women together from across the world to tackle tricky subjects with humour, compassion and insight.
We're here to find pleasure in diversity — and to stretch our comfort zones while staying connected. The aim is to break down privilege in a way that feels good, and use our collective privilege to champion and cheerlead inspirational women from across the globe.
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