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LOTL Lounge S1E2 – Shining in Our Space: Cold Ocean Rituals, Queer Art & Trailblazers

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Welcome back to the LOTL Lounge! In this episode, we dive deep into the lived experiences, creative voices, and histories that make our lesbian and queer community shine. Host Silke is joined by inspiring guests and contributors from across Australia, spanning art, activism, music, sport, and storytelling.


Featured Stories & Guests

🌊 Healing in Cold Waters: Avi’s Story

Silke sits down with Avi, a 54-year-old cold ocean swimmer from Victoria’s surf coast, for a profoundly honest chat about trauma, resilience, midlife identity, and the life-saving power of the sea. Facing waves and past wounds, Avi shares how plunging into icy waters with her queer swim pod brought her back to herself, and offers hope and courage to others in our community.
Catch Avi’s raw and compassionate journey at 00:03:08.
Read the article and listen to the full conversation 


✨ Hawaiian Healing & Queer Wisdom

What if healing isn’t about perfection, but restoring our connection to self and others? This gentle spoken word segment explores the concept of aloha and the importance of belonging for queer folk, especially those who’ve navigated disconnection or exclusion. Find solace and perspective at 00:16:04.
Read the article and listen to the full reading


🎶 Trailblazers – Queer Anthems with Tullara

Meet Cairns-based pop-rock artist Tullara, whose new single “Trailblazers” is a fierce, 80s-inspired tribute to all queer folks who’ve carved a path forward. Hear the making-of, her reflections on pride, and listen to the full anthem, a power-up for anyone who ever felt “too different.”
Jump into Tullara’s segment at 00:18:54.
Read the article and watch the Music Video

Regular Segment: The Tuck Shop Ladies

No episode of the LOTL Lounge would be complete without a visit from the Tuck Shop Ladies! Their signature of cheeky humour and queer community spirit makes them a staple in our storytelling. Keep an ear out for their latest updates and don’t forget to follow them on socials for more laughs and singalongs.


🎨 Lesbians of Australia: Portraits & Power

Artist Stacey Bennett takes us inside her nationally recognised “Lesbians of Australia” project- 100+ painted portraits and stories documenting the rich, real, everyday lives of lesbian and queer women. Stacey and Silke discuss art as activism, the impact of vulnerability, and the importance of recording our history for generations to come.
Experience the art behind the movement at 00:38:14.
Read the article and listen to the full conversation


📖 Living History: Kate Rowe, 78er & Lesbian Activist

From the first Mardi Gras to World Pride, political trailblazer Kate Rowe reflects on protest, loss, visibility, health, and finding new energy at 75. Her stories highlight community courage and how staying engaged keeps us vital—mind, heart, and body.
Walk through decades of activism at 00:52:37.
Read the article and listen to the full conversation


🏉 League from the Lounge – NRLW Updates

Jo Barrett, Fox League NRLW expert and commentator, gives a passionate NRLW wrap, celebrating Women in League’s 20th year, the rise of new teams, and the evolution of women’s rugby league.
Tactics, breakthroughs, and queer sporting visibility at 01:04:35.


🌈 Voices from Regional Australia

Mara Lucas shares an intimate blog about growing up queer in regional Queensland—where pride means quiet rebellion and small acts of authenticity can light a path for others.
Read Mara’s moving excerpt at 01:12:07.


🎵 Musical Farewell with Rachel Sage

We close with “Canopy,” a beautiful track by Rachel Sage, celebrating hope, softness, and queer belonging.
Listen to “Canopy” at 01:15:39.  and Stream/download "Canopy" - https://mpress.lnk.to/CanopySingle


Resources & Connect


Next Episode Teaser

Don’t miss Episode 3 with iconic guests Joan Nestlé (Lesbian Herstory Archives), intergenerational dialogues, Amber Loomis on lesbian-bisexual storytelling, and more trailblazing queer voices from across Australia.

Thanks for sharing this space. Stay loud, stay proud, and see you next episode!


Support the show

Check out more content on www.lotl.com

Welcome And What’s Ahead

SPEAKER_09

This is our space, this is our time. LOTL Lounge where we always die.

SPEAKER_01

Hello and welcome back to the Lottel Lounge, your weekly space for lesbian and queer stories, queer music, and the voices that shape our community. I'm Silke, and I'm so happy you're here for episode two. Before we dive in, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who tuned in last week for our first episode. We received a couple of very beautiful messages. One listener said they felt seen for the first time in ages, and others were telling us that they are so happy that Lottley's back. We're starting with a powerful conversation about cold ocean swimming and mental health, a story that really stayed with me. Then we'll take a press together with a Hawaiian healing reading, followed by some incredible queer music from artists we're proud to spotlight on our Spotify and SoundCloud playlist. We've also got comedy, activism, art and lived experience, everything that makes our community vibrant and resilient. And remember, if you are a lesbian or queer musician or you're promoting one, we would love to hear from you. Send your tracks through. We're always looking to feature new voices on the show. Alright, let's settle in, get comfy, and start episode two of the Lottl Lounge. Today

Meet Arvi And Content Warning

SPEAKER_01

on the Lottl Lounge, we're speaking with someone whose story carries both strength and openness. Arvi is a 54-year-old lesbian cold ocean swimmer and survivor who has turned her lived experience into a powerful practice of healing. Not just for herself, but for others. She talks openly about trauma, resilience, and the courage it takes to speak the truth our generation was taught to hide. And in the icy waters of Victoria's Surf Coast, she found a ritual that has literally saved her life. Arve's voice is honest, grounded, and fiercely compassionate. And her reflections on midlife identity, mental health, and the ocean as a place of renewal are exactly the conversation we want to bring into Lotal Lounge. Before we begin, a quick note for listeners. Today's conversation includes discussion of sexual abuse, trauma, and other sensitive experiences. We approach these topics with care, respect, and the intention to create understanding. But we recognize they may be difficult for some listeners. Please take care of yourself while listening. If you need to pause, step away, or skip this episode, we fully support that choice. And now let's begin our conversation.

Finding A Cold Swim Crew

SPEAKER_01

Avi, thank you for joining us on The Lotal Lounge. I'll be really interested to find out what drew you to the water.

SPEAKER_04

I kind of fell into it accidentally. I've been drawn to water my entire life since I was a child. I've loved swimming. I used to go fishing. I um used to go under the sprinkler. Anything water related. I used to go on holidays with the family to Marimbula and be in the water there. It was just always my safe place. I always felt very, really happy there in near the water, whether it's the beach or the pool or anything. In particular the ocean, I felt really safe. I had a lot of body image issues, though I still have body image issues that stopped me from going in. So I didn't go in the ocean from when I was a teenager, young teenager, until uh three years ago when I started doing my cold ocean swimming. I had just moved from Melbourne and I had a pretty bad time with my mental health. I was struggling really, you know, quite a lot. I was suicidal, I was quite depressed, and I just decided one day that I'm gonna go back to the pool. I'm just gonna swim in the pool, local pool here. So I went to the pool and I actually bumped into a complete stranger who just told me, I think within five minutes of being in the pool, about a group of women that do cold ocean swimming in Indented Head. They called the Salty Beaches, which is a name that I would never forget at the time. They were a bit far from me because it's about a 40-minute drive. So I ended up looking a lot more locally and tried to find a group in Tolkien. So on a cold April morning in 2023, I walked up to this large group of people and strangers that I didn't know, quite a large group, like there's a lot of people there in my betas, and I just walked into the ocean with them. And that was the beginning for me. Some days it was super rough, sometimes the waves were really bad. I remember there were two women, one on each hand, that walked me into the ocean and told me how to navigate the waves and you know, not how not to be scared of them and how to read them. By April, then it was pretty cold. Like I think the water was probably around 15. So for my first time it wasn't summery, like it was already getting cold. But that was a really big deal for me. And I just kind of, you know, went in and there was a mix of people that just dip in the water. They go in the dips and they just kind of, you know, talk and socialize in the water and stay in for a little bit. And then there were some people that used to swim out to the boy, which is like a little, like for the boats, you know, the the floaty things out there. And I used to always look at the the people swimming with such envy and inspiration, like I was in such awe. Like I wanted to be able to swim out there, but I was terrified because it was deep water, there was waves. Yeah, I just kind of looked at them with inspiration. And then after a few months of dipping and facing the waves and like the strong currents and getting comfortable with it, I kind of I left the safety of the shallows with a friend of mine, Dai, and she took me out. We just chatted the whole way out and we went out to the boy. You know, like it's just beautiful. Like some days the water is still and glass and it would rain and it would just be magical, you know, like such a space for me that I felt just, I was just so happy, even though it was cold and you know, the the temperature's low. And even when it's rough, I love it because the adrenaline of right, like I used to swim, you know, and I swim in really rough waters as well. So getting out there and that is also really um exciting. And then I started to compete. I've done a couple of some events, even one during the middle of winter called Frostbite in Queenscliff, and I did that one. I never ever thought that I'd be able to do a swim event. Like I I'm not a sporty kind of person. A woman in a larger body, and I was always bullied for being overweight and doing sports. I just avoided it with everything, you know. So to actually to participate in those was a really big thing for me. And I just felt so I just felt so calm and doing it. I just loved it. Like I, you know, I entered them and and I did them. I didn't care where they came, where where I came in there, it wasn't a race for me. I just wanted to finish. And I never came last, which was actually really for me. Like I was sort of the last person, you know, climbing out

Waves Fear And First Big Swims

SPEAKER_04

of the beach. And can you share with us how has swimming supported your mental health? I think it's a number of things. There are so many different elements to this that that I particularly um really love, and that is the cold part of it. I've always loved winter anyway, so I'm not someone who's adverse to cold. I feel really held by it, and I just felt like I know that my body is gonna be okay in the ocean and I trust it. There's something about the ocean, maybe the colour, maybe the salt water, maybe the blue sky on the horizon, maybe the sun rising over the horizon, maybe the rain, nature itself. In regards to my mental health, I think how it's helped me, it's helped me so much. I just feel at home there. I can't describe it. It's just a feeling of feeling at home and at peace. And even though the waves have terrified me my entire life and kept me away from there, it's also really taught me so much about my own regulation and my own emotions and my own body. What I mean by that is I guess, as as a bigger picture, it's shown me who I am again because I've had to, for me, I've had to endure and survive a lot of emotional, psychological, physical, and sexual abuse from a family member since I was a young child. As a result, I've really struggled with my mental health. And I've been in and out of therapy and I've got different tools I've been given, like when you're having, you know, various inverted commas, bad days or difficult times. But I've always felt like a part of me was stolen and lost, and I've been spending my whole life trying to find it again. And in the water, I feel like, or in the ocean in particular, I feel like I'm me again. Like I feel really at ease and I feel like I can let go and I can be free. I I can't explain it except for those words sound corny when I hear myself say it, but it just is how I feel in the ocean for me in particular. My life at the time that I started doing cold ocean swimming felt so I felt like I was in such a spiral. And ever since my late, because I only found out in my late 40s about the child sexual abuse. So I think it really grounded me. Like as I was kind of like trying to make my way through all this and navigate everything. It was a, you know, 2023 was a good five, six years later, but it was still, I had been kind of a really difficult place for a while. And I've got severe anxiety from the abuse I experienced. I've got complex PTSD from it, and a whole bunch of other things like autoimmune diseases that you get, you know, survivors of sexual abuse. And it's something that people like myself, we just have to live with it. But I've always felt like the cold ocean swimming saved my life. Like I really do. I feel like it just came at the right time. Like it's got me through the hardest hours some days, and it's given me, for me, it's as important as food or air or sleep or shelter. Like I need it. If I don't go for a week without my ocean, I just feel it in my body. I feel like, oh my God, I need to get back in the ocean, you know? And it's taught my body in a very, what's the word for it? Like, it's like muscle memory. It's kind of whenever I'm in a fight, flight from a trigger with my anxiety, my body seems to remember what it goes through when I'm hitting the ocean, you know, you know, on a cold day. And it knows that it's going to survive it. It knows that if I breathe or if I regulate, that it's okay, I'm safe. So there's something that's kind of switched on in that moment. As a survivor of sexual abuse, my coping mechanism and my survival was to split, was to completely disassociate and freeze. I've had to relearn that and to listen to my body. So for the first time my entire life, I'm now listening to it rather than ignoring it and disassociating and being scared of it. And that's the main thing that I think that I've really, that I've really taken from this. That I've really, you know, that's the that's why I feel like it saved my life, because it just gives me so much. And also the joy of it, you know, it's not just about survival, but for me, it's just about the joy, it's about, I don't know, doing it with other people because you have like a pot of swimmers you swim with, you know.

SPEAKER_01

The ocean swimming has very clearly provided a lot of healing for you. Has it also given you a new sense of identity?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, a hundred percent. What I've learned about myself is I have a strength inside of me that I didn't know I had because I can I have a confidence. So when I do these events, or when I swim to the boy and back, or I swim 1.5 Ks, or you know, I'm doing lengths of swimming that I never even thought that I would be doing. It's just taught me that I am showing me who I am more because I feel like I always used to think I can't do it. And now it's like, well, actually, you do have a strength, you do have resilience, you do have the ability to do something. It gets me through some really difficult, low, challenging times mentally, like and emotionally. I never thought that I'd be fit enough to do that anything like that, that I would, someone would look at me and make a judgment and say, you know, that I sit on the couch all day or that I'm not a sporty person. But I actually have such ability to do these events and to do these swims, and my body is fit, like it carries me

Trauma Recovery Through Cold Water

SPEAKER_04

through that and it carries me there and back. That's been a huge shift for me as well, to feel like it's a new relationship with myself, which has been pretty powerful.

SPEAKER_01

I do understand the love to the ocean and that you need to go back there. But cold ocean swimming is a whole different ball game. How do you navigate being vulnerable and your newfound strength in your life?

SPEAKER_04

It's a really relevant question for me right now, I think, in life where I am right now. I've always operated from a place of vulnerability. I'm a pretty open person. It's who I am and it's how I'm made up, so I can't do it any other way. And I think it's allowed, on one hand, it's opened me up for risk of harm and judgment. And at times it's also, it can feel really lonely because I think the world doesn't operate that way all the time. I think it's kind of it's not something I really find. I find it more now than I used to, but I think most people, I think to survive this world, you've got to protect yourself somewhat. And a lot of people don't operate from a space of vulnerability all the time. What I'm finding is I'm building my friendships because of my vulnerability. Like I'm having people comment and say that they love talking with me or they love being around me because it opens that part in themselves, or it allows them the safe space to come forward and talk about things that they might be scared to talk about, or they feel like they don't have to guess with me. Like what you see is what you get, you know, you don't have to worry. I see it as a strength because in order to be vulnerable, you've got to really kind of let everything down and you've got to really show yourself and and show up in the world as you. And that's a hard thing to do because it's hard, like you know, and I think that's that's a strength. So I I think I'm gonna continue being me and just operate that way. But it's been it's been a journey. What I've seen in myself is I've gone to the edge and I've come back, and that's taught me that I've done that and what I've been through in life and the things I've survived. I've done it all, and I still stand here today with a really open, loving heart. You know, it hasn't, it hasn't changed that part of me, which I'm really grateful for. And I get commented on all the time. My wife is always telling me that. She's always reminding me, you know, that despite what happened, you know, I used to have a very open, loving heart. So sometimes it means that I hit rock bottom and I feel like I'm gonna die and you know there's nothing to live for. And but then it gets me also off that edge and can't bring back to the fact of what I'm grateful for and how how loved I am or how valued I am, or Ivy, what message would you like to share with other queer women who are going through something similar? I want people to remember that you gotta sometimes take risks and trust yourself and know that even though it feels like the end of the line, you'll meet the people that you're meant to meet along the way. And it sometimes it can be hard. It's been hard for me. Yeah, just keep on doing it, keep on trying to be yourself. And I think that's probably it. And the main thing I would say, given the conversation topic today, would be jump in the ocean. Um, if it's something that piques your interest, jump in the cold ocean and just go for it and try it. There are groups all around cities and coastlines all around Australia that do it, and um I would really highly recommend it.

SPEAKER_01

Avi, I really like to thank you for sharing your story with us today. Your reflection on cold ocean swimming and your midlife identity and the courage to speak about it openly are a real gift, and I'm sure that many listeners will resonate with what you said today. If today's episode brought up anything difficult for you, or if you ever need support, please reach out. In Australia, you can contact Lifeline on 131114 or 1-800-respect on 1-800-737-732 for confidential counseling and help.

Support Numbers And Safety Check

SPEAKER_01

The next segment is spoken by Charlie Snow.

Hawaiian Healing And Aloha

SPEAKER_00

In a world full of self-improvement messages and endless invitations to become a better version of ourselves, it can be worth asking what if healing is not about perfection at all? For many queer folk, life involves navigating experiences of difference, exclusion, resilience, and belonging. We may spend years learning how to survive, adapt, advocate, care for others, or create spaces where we can finally be ourselves. While these can be beautiful strengths, they can also come at a cost. Hawaiian wisdom offers a gentle reminder that healing is not simply about fixing what is wrong. It is about restoring relationship. In Hawaiian culture, this understanding is reflected in the concept of aloha. While often translated simply as love, at its heart, aloha reminds us that we are not separate. Many of the wounds queer folk carry are wounds of disconnection. For many of us, this disconnection begins early in life. We may learn that parts of ourselves are unwelcome, misunderstood, or unsafe to express. In response, we often become skilled at adapting, hiding, performing, or seeking belonging in places that cannot fully receive us. We may learn to reduce ourselves to fit in, avoid rejection, or be accepted. Healing invites us to discover ways of relating to ourselves, the world, and whatever gives our lives meaning and belonging. Healing is not about becoming someone different. It is about returning to ourselves. As these connections are restored, we often discover that belonging is not something we must earn. It is something we can remember. Healing is not always comfortable. Sometimes it asks us to grieve. The goal is not perfection. The goal is greater honesty, deeper alignment, and a more authentic relationship with ourselves and the world around us. May we meet ourselves with compassion. May we live with Pono, integrity and alignment. May we cultivate lokahi, harmony and balance, and may we trust that we already belong.

Honour Awards Nominations

SPEAKER_05

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Honour Awards, celebrating outstanding achievements and contributions to rainbow communities across New South Wales. Now in its 19th year, Honour recognises both high-profile leaders and unsung heroes. The ceremony returns to Paddington Town Hall on Thursday, 8th October. Nominate now at honourAwards.com.au. Entries closed 31st July. Help us celebrate our community's finest.

SPEAKER_01

And welcome

Tulara On Trailplacer And Touring

SPEAKER_01

back. Our next guest is Cairns-based pop rock in the powerhouse, Tulara, your new single, Trail Places, an 80s-inspired big-hearted rock anthem dedicated to every queer person who's ever pushed forward, stood tall, or simply survived. This track is first, emotional, and full of pride. Let's welcome Tulara to the Lotal Lounge. You just released a new track which we are about to listen to called Trailplacer. What makes a young queer musician write a song called Trailplacer? And what was the thought behind it?

SPEAKER_02

I guess like it was uh a series of things over about a year where I watched a few TV shows and movies all very like queer focused. And a couple being uh the TV series When We Rise, which I highly recommend. It's about the AIDS epidemic, and I watched Bohemian Rhapsody. I watched Glee. Glee for me was a very sort of powerful emotional journey when I was a teenager. So it came out when I was about 16, 17, and there's a character named Santana who's coming in during the show. And that was the age that I was coming or sort of coming to terms with it myself. And I had this urge inside me to write a song to say thank you and pay respects to queer people that have come before me and paved the way for me to be able to live the way I do and live with more freedom and be able to share my love. And like, for example, I got married last year to my beautiful wife. You know, that wasn't possible in Australia. 80s style rock trick, what what pour that on? I've always loved rock, rock and roll, and yeah, especially Bohemian Rhapsody and Glee. Like Gali focuses on a lot of 80s rock. So when I was watching that and then I watched Bohemian Rhapsody and also the AIDS epidemic beings through the 80s, it just I just wanted to like pay respect to that and and also just the power that and the energy that there is through rock and roll is such a such a cool thing. So that's what really spearheaded the idea for Trailblazers.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I really enjoyed the song, and you're actually bringing out an EP in October, and this is uh one of the tracks from that EP, Rebound.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, so I've got my debut album coming out, which is very exciting. Um, and then I'm going to do a tour through New South Wales and Queensland through December and January, and then followed by Victoria of South Australia, early 2027.

SPEAKER_01

We'll put all the details in our show notes. I guess let's um listen to the track. Thanks, Tulara. Thank you. Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_14

They'll tell you that I lost my coup back in 85. I was in high school. They'll tell you that I came real close. Need to jump in a bank cliff and must have hope. They'll tell you it was just it fine. Every black enough I'd have to discard. They'll tell you everything.

Stacey Bennett Paints Lesbian Visibility

SPEAKER_01

Today on Rodel Lounge, we are speaking with an artist. You may have seen her featured recently on the ABC, but her project Lesbians of Australia sparked national interest. A growing collection of more than 100 painted portraits capturing the lives, emotions, and everyday power of lesbian and queer women. Stacy Bennett is not just an artist, she's a storyteller. This week, Maya took the hardover, photographed Stacy in her studio for lots of feature blog, queer women at work, portraits of everyday power, capturing her in the environment where these stories come to life. Today we get to hear the voice behind the portrait, the woman behind a movement and the heart behind a project that is already reshaping lesbian visibility in Australia. Welcome to Stacey. Thank you for joining us on the Lotal Lounge. You have spoken about coming out when you were 14 years of age.

SPEAKER_03

I knew that I was different, uh, and I knew I was drawn to girls and women, but not in a sexual sense, obviously, because I was so young. I think that's really interesting because it kind of shapes it beyond like sexual orientation. It's more so who you are on the inside and who you connect with and how you show up. So I think that's a really interesting point. For me personally, I came out at 14, and it certainly wasn't easy. I remember a diary entry when I was 12, absolutely petrified of the idea of going to high school because I just knew I didn't like boys and I wasn't quite sure what being in high school meant, and I knew I was supposed to be kissing them, maybe, and I was just fearful. And uh the journey from that fear to um acceptance wasn't an easy one either. Uh, for context, it was a suburban school on the outskirts of Melbourne, and then it was a time where lesbian was an insult, not a way you could claim as an identity. And I would say after 12 months of being called a lesbian and teased for even the way I was just showing up at school, I then realized that I, in fact, was a lesbian. Internally, I embraced it and it made sense to me. And I felt excited of like, oh, okay, this is who I am, and I am okay with that. I kind of worked through the shame or the um uneasy feelings that I might have felt fairly quickly, despite not having many role models. It was then once I knew in my internal world that it was okay. What does this mean now? Especially as a 14-year-old, I certainly hadn't even kissed a girl at that time, but uh it was a good sense of knowing of who I was. That was the first step. There was a you know a thousand um challenges and missteps to follow uh as any teenager kind of experiences as they find out who they are in the world.

SPEAKER_01

Starting off this interview to ask you about coming out and your identity as a lesbian instead of talking to you as um what you do now as being a painter. There was a reason why we put this question in the front because you are actually doing a quite exciting project, has something to do with lesbians. The question about your identity and coming out has to be answered first before we go into the next question about your project, because being a lesbian is really defining your project.

SPEAKER_03

I started about two years ago. It originally started by not being able to find any stories of lesbians throughout history, or what I could find was really disjointed. I knew I wanted to do something that helped spotlight lesbians beyond stereotypes of what I was seeing in the media and just show that we're really rich human beings, and like everyone else, we have such a unique story, or we have our own challenges, and I really wanted to explore that. And so I originally embarked on finding some lesbians in history, like in Hollywood and things that hadn't been shared before, and so I started painting these people, portraits of these people, but the information was so hard to find, and it wasn't until I had a penny drop moment of, oh, there's probably hundreds of stories that are not being recorded now in Australia, accessible to me if I'm just brave enough to put the call out and ask for participants. And so I probably sat on that for a good three, four weeks before I got the courage to ask. And then I put on um Facebook groups and other online forums uh a call out to say, could I paint your portrait and listen to your story? And I didn't really know where it would lead uh initially. Um, like I had a a s a vision of collecting stories and doing something with them, but I guess I had no sense of what I might uncover. And so having doing done this for two years, I now have a hundred portraits completed and a hundred stories all uh in my notes and yeah, have really discovered what it means to be a lesbian in Australia.

SPEAKER_01

I have to ask, what are you going to do with that? Is that is that I mean, I can just visualize it. Will you paint 200? I don't think I'll stop.

SPEAKER_03

It feels funny to be away from the easel for so long. In terms of what's next, I am seeking funding to do a tour, would be great to take these stories and portraits into all corners of the country and help connect the community across Australia. Uh earlier this Yeah, I produced a calendar and it's probably one of the pieces that I'm so proud of because it hangs in so many kitchens and and studies and homes around um the country and each month features one portrait and alongside it uh a quote or a a story of what's unique to them and and their story. What I like about that is it surrounds us in members of the our community that we wouldn't necessarily connect to because uh Australia is is vast and and we don't often have the opportunity to think of one another as as we move through life. But as you're recording your dates for the month, you might see someone who's on that month experiencing a particular hardship because it's a anniversary of s of something or it's a special LGBT day of celebration that's significant for them. So I really feel like that in itself connects the community in a way that I didn't expect, but is something that's really special.

SPEAKER_01

It's an amazing, amazing project, and you would have come across so many really interesting stories, life stories. Is there one particular one that you can share with us that was that really made an impact?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, there are so many. I can't stress enough how even sometimes the most smallest story in the way that someone was just overcoming heartache in their own way, like touched me in a way that you know I I couldn't let it go. It was quite sweet, it came out in the portrait as I painted them. But if I was to say one story that has played on my mind the most, it would be someone who was in their 50s uh in Brisbane and in 12 months they had lost their faith, they'd been a strict Christian their entire life. Um they'd discovered that they were a lesbian and so had this world shift of who they were and how they showed up. And in the same 12 months they were diagnosed with cancer and so were faced with the idea of death and not making it through the treatment, all whilst they were still trying to come to terms with who they were, and then in a s without their system of belief to surround their world. And uh she really shared with me some moments of like sitting at the kitchen table and hoping to meet this woman and and you know, uh bowing her head in in prayer, like ready to ask God for what she wanted or for guidance, and then having this realization that that doesn't exist. And I feel like we're dealing with those really human things of like, who am I? And then what's going to happen to me with uh cancer diagnosis, earth shattering and and I imagine so destabilizing um when you don't have that system. And when I spoke to her, she was really positive and she was at the other side and she was she'd finished her cancer treatment and she was in remission and she seemed positive, but there is a tenderness there of what she'd been through and and obviously the journey of self-discovery and and finding who you are and what that means is a long line.

SPEAKER_01

You know, I can just imagine you come across a story like that would affect you in a way it channels back to your art, I think. The 99 other stories that you had, it would have changed you as a painter.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, I think I'm a people person, so I really love to connect and I really love the vulnerability that comes with connecting with someone and hearing their story and and listening, and I respect it so much. I think yes, it did come out in the painting in almost a way I can't describe. I ended up painting this story I just shared. I ended painting her portrait at least five times because I felt like I just couldn't get it right. There was a balance of hope and tenderness that I was trying to get in in the portrait. Um, so yeah, I think the biggest impact for me would be understanding what it means to be vulnerable and share your story and then feeling the duty I have of capturing that artistically. But I would say the bigger positive impact would be I feel deeply connected to my community in ways that I didn't expect and maybe that my participants of the project don't even know. But I often think about all these hundred stories and wonder how they're going or what they're up to and if they're okay. But that for me doesn't feel like a burden. It just feels like I'm more connected than ever.

SPEAKER_01

You're now becoming part of that history because those paintings, they will be around for paintings are around for hundreds of years. What does it feel like to be part of history now?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, I look, I hadn't thought of it like that. I I think I was just setting out to to make the change that I wanted to see and and do the things that interest me. I think it feels really important. Visibility is so important to me. And the idea of what it means to be a lesbian is something that I found interesting to document, interesting to explore artistically and through stories. Initially, when I started this, I understood that the word lesbian can elicit some emotion. Some people don't like it. I know in my experience at work, if I was to say to correct someone, if they said, Where's where's your husband or whatever, I would sometimes feel like I need to say, I'm a lesbian. You know, it needed to be a whisper because it felt loaded. It didn't feel like it was appropriate for work. And, you know, these can be attributed to many things like the male gays or the porn industry really sexualizing the the word lesbian in the 90s, and then prior to that, other stereotypes of angry political people in the 70s and 80s. And I think these things take a while to dissolve, and there's some residual cost to that. And even the words we reach for sometimes feel a there's a level of discomfort.

SPEAKER_01

Practically, how did it work when you painted your your subjects? Do they keep the portrait or do you have the collection of all the hundred portraits that you are about to tour with, hopefully?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, I have all 100 portraits. I have four framed around my studio and then the rest are on my desk, you know, and will be packed away carefully shortly. I I'd like to offer the participants their first opportunity to buy a print or the original, uh, depending on on how I move forward with the project. Because the worst thing I could do is just to hold on to these. I feel very attached to all 100. Um, but the idea is to share these stories. So yeah, they will be available to participants first and then the general public after for for purchase and to celebrate in in one way or another.

SPEAKER_01

Amazing. Well, Stace, I can't wait to have a look at them. Are they available to view? Have you got a website that listeners can go to and have a look at the project? Or will there be something in the near future that will be launched?

SPEAKER_03

Absolutely. So you can see my work on my website, which is stacybennett.art, and there has a collection of portraits and stories available for viewing. I'm currently working on digitizing most of the collection for for uh readers and viewers' enjoyment. Um, and then also on Instagram, I'm sharing the the my process and how I'm tracking along with that. Um, and my handle is uh stace.paints.quiz.

SPEAKER_01

Great. Well, we put all those details in the show notes. Well, thank you so much for your time today, Stace. Really appreciate it. You can also check out the blog on Lottl.com about Stace work. Amazing. Thanks so much for having me. You can explore Stacey's work at StacyBennett.art and see the photo essay we created in her studio at Lottl.com. The links are all in the show notes.

Kate Rowe On Activism And Ageing

SPEAKER_01

Kate Rowe is a 78er, a political activist of more than 45 years. She continues to speak openly about aging, identity, community, and health, and what it means to have lived through the evolution of lesbian culture from the 1970s to today. So Kate, you've been on political activists for more than 45 years, and you are a 78er. And when do you look back at those days of protest and resistance, what moments do still feel vivid in your body, in your mind?

SPEAKER_08

Obviously the the original night on June the 24th, when it kind of went uh, you know, went from great to horrible, uh, will always be etched in my mind and everybody's mind and body who were there on that night. What I still feel is that that whole era and that whole following few years was one where we all came together to fight the injustice. And so there was this incredible sense of camaraderie, of collectivism, of working together for a common cause. And in fact, I feel like we became energized from that. In a sense, had not that happened, maybe that whole political kind of activism might have just fizzled out because there weren't that many really active. But then that night happened, and a lot of us, including me, started to become politically active just because of what happened that night. So that's what I really like. But also, I think for me, the whole age crisis still etches in my mind for those that you know, probably too young to remember. That was like five years of absolute horror. You know, it was the lesbians who were nurses or carers that came out and supported all the gay mass that were just dying in droves. I remember I was in the gay lesbian choir and we we marched this candlelight rally, I've never forgotten it. We marched in complete silence all the way from Whitlam Square to Green Park, and then the choir sang, and we just had this moment of silence outside St. Vincent's, which is where Wade was. No one could have gone from that not being touched or feeling incredibly sad. And I think the last thing that I really feel really re-energized, even though it wasn't that long ago, was world pride. Just for me, it showed how far we'd come since 1978 and just showed the world what a not only what a fantastic city we've got, not only that we can put on great parties and concert, but that we just had this incredible community.

SPEAKER_01

When you just just described what what happened or fight within Mardi Gras now, it must just turn your stomach just watching this. That's that's unfolding.

SPEAKER_08

I've been quite active within m first Mardi Gras and Mardi Gras. Been to several AGMs, so I've been from when they first started. One of the horrible things of back in the 70s was there, but there were these far left, they were called themselves the Spartacists or Trotskyists, very, you know, fringe groups on the left who used exactly the same tactics to come to meetings, not just Mardi Gras, but other meetings. And their whole modus apparandi was to disrupt and destroy. And they would come into the meetings and they would just ignore the kind of the rules of the organization. They would talk over everybody, they would scream and shout, the things would close down. I've seen them over many years. When you do these kind of tactics, you kill your message. What I found was frustrating that people just disengage because they just didn't want to go and listen. Not that they don't have a message, they have a message, and a lot of us agree with those messages, but the way that they spread the message is so destructive and negative that people just disengage.

SPEAKER_01

It's interesting you said that this kind of groups existed in the 70s and 80s as well. Oh yes, totally. I think we could do a whole podcast episode on this discussion. So I will move on. My next question and has the lesbian community disappeared or simply morphed into something new?

SPEAKER_08

Lesbians have always been invisible since you know Queen Vic said her thing. And then within the gay and lesbian community, the lesbians still somehow we get shafted or we're we're not, you know, well, we're not all we're not there. Then there's the whole debate about gender identity. Quite a few older lesbians who see in their in their sense, black and white, that you are male or female. You cannot change your sex, but you can change your gender. Of course I have conflicts. I I I would be dishonest if I didn't say I understand how some women feel. I have conflicts about it as well. The difference between me, I guess, and some of the older lesbians is that I've decided that I need to have an open mind. I need to learn about this. And I have met like Jackie Turner, who was on that panel, uh, who's so unlike the trans in the pride in protest, like I've actually become quite friendly with her. And and I don't see a male or a female, I see this person. You know, if there's respect on both sides, I can see them and I can accept them. It's their life, not mine. The whole world has changed, and we can't and the whole lesbian community has changed. And so we can either hang to the past and say we want it to be like it was, which it won't, or we can not necessarily embrace it, but just sort of say, oh, well, you know, this is just on a continuum of of evolution of everyone, including the lesbian and gay, lesbian, transgender community. And in another 50 years, it'll be different again. Pronouns, I still not I don't tend to use them, but I'm trying to learn, I've try to learn from people what this all means and just embrace it as much as I can. I need to find people who are open to asking for me to ask questions and not put me down. And I have found one or two people that we can have really honest conversations and I can voice my concerns and they can explain things to me because a lot of it's just it's a generational in almost.

SPEAKER_01

You are also an older lesbian, you're 75. How do you navigate aging?

SPEAKER_08

I navigate it by staying engaged. I that's how I do it. And obviously, I look, I don't go to every protest that's going. I'm a bit risk averse. I become engaged in the tools that we have now. I don't have to be out on the streets surrounded by police. I don't I don't have to be a provocateur, I don't have to be any of that. So it's about staying engaged and being open to learning new things, I think is what keeps you younger in your head, at least, if not the body.

SPEAKER_01

I feel there is more respect in the community towards the older generation than than there is in the wider community. Like in our community, maybe it's because it's acknowledged that you did the heart yard.

SPEAKER_08

I did this talk being a 78. This woman came up with her daughter, and her daughter was probably, I don't know, 20 or something, very young. Everyone looks young to me, and she was teary, and her mother wanted her to introduce herself to me because she said she wanted to say thank you because she had no idea what we did as lesbians back in the day, and that she can now be an openly young lesbian with a mother who totally accepts her, and she just wanted to say thank you. And I just, you know, I got quite we had a big hug, and I just thought, if you could if we can get that, then that is fantastic. You did touch on health and fitness before.

SPEAKER_01

What are you doing at the moment for your fitness?

SPEAKER_08

I still swim and run and cycle. I I'll get up at six and I'll go for a walk down to the ocean and I just, you know, embrace nature and know that I've moved my body because it for me, once I stop moving, my mind will stop. And um and I think you you're as staying fit uh uh and not necessarily overly fit, but just exercising as a daily thing just changes your mindset. That's the way I look at it. Like I feel more alive and more vital because I've looked after my body. And I'm not necessarily, I don't have a strong constitution. I have things wrong with me that I've had wrong with me for years, and now I'm getting older, I've got other things happening, but that doesn't stop me, you know, going out there and just have breathing in the fresh air and just you know communing with nature. I know it sounds cosmic, but it it's just getting out of my own head, really, sometimes and just just having a little moment of of um understanding that you know I'm 75 and every day is precious because I could not wake up tomorrow.

SPEAKER_01

So you spent the last seven years doing more writing and storytelling from queer stories to generation women, silver sirens, and stories that stir.

SPEAKER_08

Queer Stories was the first time, I think it was I can't remember how long ago, it was probably about seven years ago, and they were doing a special for the 78ers at Mardi Gras, and they just put out like for stories. I wrote this story about marrying my neighbor who was gay, who died of AIDS, um, and I got his superannuation when he died. So we actually got legally married in 1995. I call it same-sex marriage 90s style, that's the title. And again, it was quite funny, and I got such an amazing response. And people say, Oh, you should write more. Oh no, I'm not really a good writer. But then I started going to Generation Women, and you know, I just dropped, you know, I just kind of tell people stories because I've had a bit of an eclectic life. You know, it's not a how-to book. I because I say in the blurb, I can't tell people how to run their lives. I don't want a how-to book, it's just uh my memories, my memoir. And I had it written, the first draft was written in three months. I don't know what happened, it all just came out. It was launched June last year at Qtopia, and it's just sparked off. Well, it's just taken off in a whole different way. I mean, but what I've found is that I am a good storyteller, and I'm not saying this out of ego, Silka. I have a sense of humor, I write well, I can engage an audience. It's just taken me all these years to realize that I'm good at something. What's the title of it? And how can people find it? So it's called Um How the Fuck Would I Know? It is on Booktopia and Amazon. Um, I also sell them myself. It's uh Kate Row.net, but people can always contact me and uh ask me to send them a copy because I'll do that.

SPEAKER_01

What has surprised you most about how Rita responded?

SPEAKER_08

Interesting because it's always the same thing. It's like some people have literally said, I couldn't put it down, I read it in two days. There's stories in there that anybody can relate to. They say, What a life you've had, and I think, well, I'm not the only one that's had challenges in their life. You know, I've kind of got a sense of humor now. I've kind of it's not a victim book in that sense. Congratulations. And Kate, what's next creatively then? From this writing, I've discovered my voice and that I'm a good storyteller. I'd love to do a TEDx. I would love to do a TEDx, but like, you know, there's a million other people who think they want to do TEDx as well. So just engage people and just share my life. There's other people that will resonate with what I've said. I'm not the only one that was abused as a child. I'm not the only one that's been raped. I'm not the only lesbian in the world. I'm not the only 78er. I had a really difficult childhood. I'm not the only one that had a really difficult childhood. I one of my early talks at Waverley Library, we had about 50 people there, and there were some young women who bought the book, and they were sitting at the front, and I was, I was, I was actually talking about the childhood abuse, and I just looked at them and I just knew they knew what I was talking about because they've had it too. And they came up to me afterwards. They didn't say very much, but I just knew that that gives them the space to look at their own story, their own lives. Do you know what I mean? I'm not telling people this is what I did and this is how you should fix it. I'm I can't fix anybody else's life.

SPEAKER_01

No, it's about sharing a story so other people can see themselves in there and and know they're not alone.

NRLW Update And Women In League

SPEAKER_07

Next up, League from the Lounge with Joe Barrett. Hi everyone, and welcome to League from the Lounge. I'm Joe Barrett, and this is your NRL W rep. Well, we've just come off a massive fortnight of rugby league, and it's particularly special time in our calendar as the NRL has celebrated 20 years of the women in league ground. And seeing the standard of play in rounds two and three, it's such a great reminder of the community we've built. When I reflect on 20 years of the women in league round, I remember when it started I was still playing representative footy. And the game at the time was very different for women. I remember being invited to a few women in league breakfasts and functions and being so excited that the game was really starting to recognize the role women had, not just as players in rugby league, but women in general, from washing jerseys at the local under 12s right through to having a little bit more presence and voice in the boardrooms. And the progress since then has been quite phenomenal. At the time, we were building the profile of the Jillaroos, which is the Australian Women's Rugby League team. And while we were competing in World Cups and had been for some time, there was very little recognition or understanding of what it took for women just to have opportunity and to be visible in the game of rugby league. We couldn't have imagined then how the competition and the opportunities of this sport would change the way they have. We now have a national competition, female voices in commentary, more coverage. In general, across all forms of media, and a whole new generation of supporters and sponsors and people connected to the women's game. While there's still work to do, Women in League Round is a great reminder to stop and appreciate just how far women's rugby league has come and how exciting the next chapter will be. So, what's on my mind in terms of NRLW? Well, the one thing I've been thinking about this week is how the narrative of the competition, I reckon, is already shifting. In round one, the heavyweights seem to be untouchable. We copped a lot of comments and feedback from the media that once again it's a two-horse race. But I can't help but feel the gap is narrowing. And as a fan, it's been so exciting to watch teams actually challenge the top two in rounds two and three. The Broncos and the Roosters, to be fair, remain unbeaten, but they're having to work harder and seem to show more chinks in the armor than in previous seasons. We're seeing smaller margins, and the results are getting harder to predict. And I think that's exactly what the comp needs. Having said that, we've still had some really big score lines, but I see that as a positive because some teams are really building on their attack. The Knights and the Titans this weekend scored their biggest winning margin ever. And I think that's great for them. Three things I've noticed. Number one, the rise of the chasing pack. One of the first things that stood out to me early was the surge of the West Tigers and the Raiders. Seeing the Tigers who really struggled last year, two years in a row as wooden spooners, force their way into the top four is incredible. They're not just making up numbers anymore. And they're playing with the confidence that suggests that maybe that last place could be a distant memory. The first three rounds have really shown that teams can work their way into living up to their potential. For the Raiders and the Tigers, they've had different reasons for why they've struggled over the past couple of seasons. And even though they have both notched up a loss so far, their two wins have been really important. And on the loss for the Raiders, I genuinely think they were pretty unlucky to lose to the Roosters. They really put the pressure on them, went into halftime in the lead, and they showed they're a team to be respected. More than anything, what I love for the women in these teams is that they've had some success because on the back of loss after loss, in such a tough sport like rugby league, there's no escape. You're still tackling, you're still getting hurt, you're still turning up. They have a preseason, they've got all the same commitments as every other player. So to get a few wins is just awesome for those players. Number two, Allie Briginshaw's evolution. I wrote an article for Fox Online about what I keep noticing with the Broncos is how Ali Brigginshaw seems to be redefining her role. She's a legend of the game, she's achieved pretty much all there is. But this season she's officially handed over the captaincy to Tamika Upton and does take a bit of a backseat to players like her and Jesse Southwall. And in some ways, rightly so. They're the future of the Broncos, and indeed Women's Rugby League at the next level. But it's a veteran leadership of Ali where she's still making a difference. Every touch matters in terms of her involvement in the attack and her steady, humble influence. Just sees her playing still some quality football, but with such dignity. She seems happy, and I love that for her. And I love what she continues to bring to the Broncos and the NRLW competition. Number three, the explosion of attack. The interesting thing about this last fortnight is how the attacking flair has just improved so much across the board. After a first round where there was quite a few concerns with discipline and sin bins and hip drops and injuries, it feels like, for the most part, most teams have clearly found their rhythm. There's been several hat tricks in a single weekend. And the last two rounds have seen players, two in particular from the Warriors and the Gold Coast Titans, score four tries in one game. That's pretty amazing. I don't reckon I score four tries in my career. Not that I'm someone to measure attacking flair against by any stretch, but it's still a pretty incredible feat. The Knights and the Titans also, as sides, scored their biggest ever winning margin in their time in the competition. It speaks to what's going on in the coaching space and how these girls are putting on a show and offering us plenty of highlight reels. One player, well, I'm going to actually make it to this week. I keep coming back to. And honestly, the first one we're almost immune to her because she's so good at being brilliant, is Tamika Upton. 50 career tries and 50 career assists in just 52 games. She's the first in history to do this. It's easy to take it for granted because she makes the extraordinary look routine. But as a fan, I just wanted to sit back and appreciate. I think we're watching one of the all-time greatest careers unfold. And on that, it's so hard to pick out individual players when so many legends of the modern era are celebrating and achieving the milestone of 50 NRLW games. But Liv Koenick from the Roosters hit her 50 game mark right in line with Roosters coach John Strange, who also is the leading coach with 50 games. But what a star she's been. She's a New South Wales sky, blue, a Jillaroo legend, an Indigenous and Maldives all-star. But week in, week out, she's a champion for the Roosters. And in her 50th game, she did this incredible flick pass in second phase play, which just shows what she's capable of at any given moment. So exciting to watch, doing amazing things, and absolutely worth a mention in reaching that milestone. Looking ahead to round four, the thing I'm watching is who can keep pushing those top teams. Brisbane and the Roosters are still the size everyone's chasing. But the competition feels like it's closing in around them. And honestly, that's a sign of a really healthy competition when every week starts to feel like anything can happen. So that's everything from me for this week on League from the Lounge. I'm Joe Barrett. Thanks for joining me.

Pride In Quiet Places Excerpt

SPEAKER_01

Every week we'll bring you a story from our new website, Voices from Across Our Community. Today we're featuring Mara Lucas's moving blog about navigating her queer identity in regional Queensland. Here's a short excerpt.

SPEAKER_06

Hi, I'm Mara Lucas, and this is Pride in the Quiet Places. Growing up queer in regional Queensland. You can read it now on LotL.com. I turned 18 three days after the postal vote closed. Australia was deciding whether people like me deserved the right to marry, and I had just missed the chance to have my say. My future, my relationships, my legitimacy sat in the hands of strangers. I grew up in regional Queensland, in a town big enough to appear on a map without squinting, but small enough that nothing ever really happened. Pride was quiet then. The only rainbow flag I ever saw was a small one in my psychologist's office. A simple gesture. I didn't know loving someone of the same sex was even an option until I was fifteen. Representation was scarce, and the only queer people I knew were a handful of kids from school who in turn knew a handful of others. Through that tiny network, I discovered roller derby. A fast, fierce, woman-dominated sport on roller skates. I was hooked after watching one game. When I joined the league, another newcomer signed up the same week. She was three years older, a little shorter, and openly gay. Something that terrified me at the time. I was especially 18 and closeted to everyone except a few close friends. Befriending her felt like watching the clouds apart for the first time. Something I never knew was possible suddenly became all I could think about. We learned the sport together, traveled to tournaments, and met other people like us. After a couple of years, my hometown began to feel small and stifling. I met my now wife while they were living in Brisbane, as they too had escaped the confines of regional Queensland. Eventually, after months of long distance and years of longing to leave, I moved to the city. It felt like landing on another planet. In the city, those signs were everywhere. Flags, pronoun badges, pride patterned lanyards. Slowly, the fear I carried began to loosen. Holding my partner's hand in public felt like a small rebellion at first, but over time it became something simple and natural. In 2025, my wife and I decided to move back. Losing my dad the year before had shaken me deeply. Over the years, my wife had grown into their identity as a non-binary person. They dress in men's clothes, keep their hair short, and wear their tattoos proudly. In cities, they blend into the mix of identities. In regional towns, they stand out like color in a tin type photograph. After watching them work so hard to embrace who they are, the idea of them shrinking themselves for safety or facing consequences if they didn't terrified me. That fear reminded me why pride matters, especially in small towns. So I started making small but unmistakable statements. At work, I spoke openly about my wife and used their pronouns without hesitation. Life outside the closet can be frightening and even dangerous, but that's where the sunshine is. And sometimes all someone needs to step into the light is to see another person standing there first.

SPEAKER_11

If the world were run by women, there would be an end to war. There would be an end to suffering at the hands of hatred sharks. There would be no more buttressing of the vengeance, violence starts. The details in the good. Doing what you should, the aftermath of everything you could have done is cruel. Poison of division will join you like a fool. Come to me and hold my hand. You don't have to understand. You just have to stand under my canopy. Come to me, open my heart. You don't have to even start.

SPEAKER_12

You just have to want to heal in sympathy I believe with every flicker of my soul.

SPEAKER_11

If the world were run by women, there would be an end to war. There would be an end to screaming, and the children's cries unheard. There would be a deeper breathing in the lungs of mother. Come and be home by hair. You just have to stand under. You don't have to even stop. You just have to want to keep insanity with old home. You don't have to eat a stone. You just have to want to hear something.

Closing Track And Next Episode Tease

SPEAKER_01

And that's a wrap for today's episode of The Lottl Lounge. A huge thank you to Rachel Sage for letting us close out with her gorgeous track Canopy. We'll be speaking with her in our next episode about her brand new EP Nexus. You don't want to miss that conversation. If you enjoyed today's show, make sure you follow our Lotl playlist. It's one of the easiest ways to support queer artists and keep discovering new voices across our community. We always love hearing from you. So send us your feedback to podcast at lottle.com or click on the link below to leave us a voice message. And yes, we will play some of your messages in the next episode. We created a powerful mix of conversations for the next episode. Joan Nestle, award-winning writer, teacher, and co-founder of the lesbian hair story archives, Joan is joined for an intergenerational dialogue with Bridget, exploring queer kinship and the activist work with Dykes and accomplices against fascism and transphobia. Then we meet up with Amber Loomis. We dive into her little article on the long complicated history between lesbian and bisexual women, unpacking tension, solidarity, and shifting narratives. And we are committed for historic segments. And Tamson Martin is sharing her research on the early gay liberation movement and lesbian involvement. Then to be Daleen offers a deeply important conversation about women coming out of prison, the barriers they face, and the community support they deserve. And of course our Reculus return, the Tuck Shop Ladies, and Joan Barrett with the latest NILW update. Thanks for listening, and thanks for being part of our lesbian and queer storytelling community. Catch you in episode 3.

SPEAKER_10

This is our space. Thanks for the love and the time you break. The lounge fades out with warm down grates. Till next time, friends, from the yellow tea lounge space.

Head Shot

Silke Bader

Host