The Power We Hold
Welcome to The Power We Hold podcast. My name is Vanessa Albury. I’m an eco-visual artist who grew up in Nashville, TN, went to college in Charleston, SC, and moved to NYC the day before my interview for graduate school at NYU in March of 2006. I left my apartment of 13 years in Brooklyn and I now live in the world making art and focusing on healing and love. This podcast follows my journey to becoming a better and better ally to people of all our beautiful difference ( BIPOC, LGBTQAI2S+ and fellow non-normative brained and bodied friends, neighbors and strangers) and a better steward of planet Earth, our shared home.
The lovely human and brilliant artist, Caleb Williams is my season 1 co-host on this journey because of her vast talents along with her willingness to have uncomfortable conversations with me and our shared belief in our intentions, integrity and love.
We are here to support you on your journey into better allyship and Earth stewardship with us.. I understand that people tend to listen to other people who look and sound like they do, so I’ve created this podcast to provide an example of how to navigate uncomfortable and even difficult conversations about race, gender, brains, bodies and the planet as a white person.
Also I'm in the non-normative brain category. I have narcolepsy with cataplexy from C-PTSD. I am by no means perfect. I will step in it, say the wrong thing, and I’m committed that being ok and to digging deeper and learning.
For those of you listening who are BIPOC, LGBTQAI2S+ and non-normative embodied, I thank you for listening and participating in the education process of informing the privileged classes of your experience of racism, sexism, ageism, body-ism and all the -isms in America and the world. I understand that is a generous action and I’m grateful to you.
My intention is for this podcast to give you, and us all really, hope for a future of equality and faith that many white, straight, generally normative people are on your side and truly want to create a better, equal and sustainable world together.
To get there, to understand each other, we must discuss uncomfortable topics and learn how to relate to each other through them.
With deeper understanding of each other, we can truly love each other. Thank you for joining me on this journey exploring The Power We Hold.
The Power We Hold
The Power We Hold Podcast S01 Ep03: How has your life changed since the pandemic started?
Thank you for joining me, your host and visual artist Vanessa Albury, on my journey as a better ally to people and steward of the environment in podcast form as The Power We Hold!
In episode 3 I review the shifts I've made in my life thanks to a new perspective due to the pandemic lockdown. I ask you to also consider, how has your life changed since the pandemic began? How are you supporting local, eco and BIPOC businesses? How are you supporting yourself?
Originally recorded Nov 16, 2021 in Brooklyn, NY
Show Notes:
The Power We Hold Podcast IG, website
If you enjoy The Power We Hold podcast, please consider supporting us in covering the costs to create it on Patreon via Coral Projects.
Host Vanessa Albury IG, website
Co-host Caleb Williams IG, website (She's got great swag for sale!)
Coral Projects IG, website, creating underwater, eco-contemporary art to rewild the ocean with oysters and corals.
Make a tax-deductible donation to Coral Projects and NY Oyster Reefs
Between the Windows IG, public art collaboration with Caleb
Music by Wael Elhalaby IG, Soundcloud
This is a clip from his song Clear Skys.
Audio Editor, and my cousin, making magic from my home recordings, Bryan Klausing of the Rain Junkies website, LinkedIn
Recommendations:
Free Store Project, IG - This project is NYC-based and they have a map of locations on their website linked here. Create one where you live!
Kylin O'Brien's Feng Shui Consultant Work - It’s not healthy to have more than you need and she can help you make it all beauty and balanced.
Learn more about Alexandra Hammond's Boa's Repair Shop.
As you clear your space consider these options like a checklist before the trash bin:
Donate
Sell
Recycle
Repair
Do you want to align your purchases with your ethic to live eco-friendly and support BIPOC and local businesses? I do eco-assessments for households and businesses. I review your household habits and recommend new strategies and products to align your behavior and where you spend your money with your ethic. Email me.
An easy and "feel good" gateway to aligning your ethics and your spending, redirecting your purchases to businesses that create sustainably and responsibly and you'll be supporting Black-owned businesses. It's toilet paper!
Lor tush is a small business selling bamboo toilet paper out of Baltimore run by two Black biological sisters. My highest recommendation as they are a small business.
Reel sells bamboo toilet paper and paper towels. It is a Black-owned company. They ship directly to you. The prices are comparable to those tree wasting TP to which you are accustomed. They are also available at some Target store