A Life: Recent Episodes
The A Life Team
A Life is a weekly podcast about asexuality and asexuals. The show is open to topic suggestions or listener questions and is always welcoming towards people who want to come on as a guest or perhaps even a regular panelist.
Yes folks, this blog is now done.
For more Skylar, Vlad and The Top Secret International Queer Conspiracy, head on over to the new site and subscribe to the new feed! Site: http://conspiracy.podcastit.tv/
Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/tsiqsc
The long series name deserves an even longer episode title. This week: social media as a political platform, religion and countries behaving badly.
Is there any hope left for any of us?
Nope, we're all done for.
The end. Have a very nice weekend!
Because A Life is encountering continuous production problems and the topics seem to be pretty well covered, Skylar and Vlad are launching a new show that you will now be the first people to hear. What is it about? Well, the title pretty much covers it, doesn't it? It sure is long enough!
The case against joining the LGBT community, again. Also: New subforum on AVEN & Daria.
The advantages and disadvantages of living in different settings and being a member of a gender or sexual minority.
Also, your homework: A Negative: LGBTAbsent
So... the constant hiatuses. We're going to explain the reasons and beg for forgiveness.
Also: Boobs!
The show has never shied away from criticizing the community and especially AVEN. But this time the feces has really impacted the ventilator with the latest development involving yet another denial of creating a subforum for aromantics. And that is our topic for today.
A brand new show! Is that even possible? Apparently.
This time the panelists talk about the image that media uses to portray asexuality.
It's been so very long since this show was recorded that not even the panelists can remember what the show was about. So step into our little international box of intrigue!
The holidays are upon us and that means it's time to indulge in some festive musings relating to Asexual and general issues.
We've talked about the differences between Asexuals and the LGBT community in great detail in the past. This time we turn the table and talk about the similarities.
Another unplanned but prolonged absence creates the necessity for an entire episode of reading your feedback.
As the logical continuation to the continuous exploration into the subject of gender, the panelists look at androgyny as it was and as it is.
We’re back! And because of the extended hiatus, there’s a whole lot of feedback to cover. And that is what we did, uncharacteristically thoroughly as well, not even abridging the longer messages. So it’s feedback galore, for your enjoyment and/or dread.
Feeling repulsed by your own gender is a theme that seems to come up pretty often in the asexual community. Gender repulsion goes beyond "simple" genital repulsion, since it encompasses other parts of your body as well as the societal norms and expectations placed on you because of your physical sex. This is what the rather small crew of A Life discusses this time around.
Queer is a term that has proved itself to be rather problematic for both people who identify as such and those who don't. What does the word actually mean and who should be using it to describe themselves? And, ultimately, can asexuals be considered queer? These are the questions that accompany general randomness in this episode of A Life!
Sex is said to be one of the most important great pleasures in life and therefore we asexuals suffer as we're missing out on it. But that is rather silly, because everybody derives great pleasure from different things. Therefore we discuss our great pleasures as well as a large dosage of the signature randomness you've come to expect in this episode of A Life.
How does feminism relate to asexuality and how do different kinds of feminists deal with the asexual community? And what exactly is feminism and why should we or why should we not care? These are the questions processed by the team with the aid of Sy. Who is Sy? You'll find out in the 60th episode, released sometime next week.
In this very eeeeeevil episode of A Life, the team digs into the very eeeeeevil topic of kinks and fetishes as they apply to asexual people. Featuring the guestive expertise of Diedra.
Radiocarbon dating is a radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring radioisotope carbon-14 to estimate the age of carbon-bearing materials up to about 58,000 to 62,000 years. However, we're talking about the other variety of dating, the human interaction inducing personal contact kind.
Randomness is the word of the day when the A Life team heads off to the unknown territories of an offtopic show. Although, to be honest, I don't know what the official word of the day is, so it probably is not randomness. In any case, the show features the special guestitude of Kendra.
This week the intrepid panel of A Life delves into the depths of maturity. Often asexuality is confused with sexual immaturity, so we discuss how they differ from each other and how to tell them apart.
Life happens! Even when it's offline. So asexuality happens. Even when it's offline. And that is what we discuss.
It may come as a bit of a shocker, but there actually are other online communities than AVEN around. We go over the more larger and notable ones.
Poll:
Do you participate in other asexual communities beside AVEN?
This week's show got a little out of hand... In fact, it got so out of hand that Vlad did a pretty major editing for the show afterwards, so I thank her for the effort in here as well. The show makes repeated attempts to have a topic... but fails. So enjoy! ...or at least don't hate it too much.
A series of unfortunate occurrences have prevented the brave crew of the starship A Life from convening and bringing you another dosage of asexual discussion. But here we are again, this time mainly going over the past several weeks of feedback and playing the Asexual Elitist Blame Game!
Demisexuality and Grey-A's are a part of the asexuality community as well. So naturally they'll be a part of this podcast as well. This is what the brave crew of the starship A Life discusses this time around. Special guestness provided by Cat & Wojtek.
In honour of the 50th episode, the panelists decided to go for video. With disastrous consequences!
Well, they’re really not all that disastrous, but I thought that a sensationalist description might boost our numbers a bit…
In honour of the 50th episode, the panelists decided to go for video. With disastrous consequences!
Well, they’re really not all that disastrous, but I thought that a sensationalist description might boost our numbers a bit…
Allies! Who are they, do they exist and do we need them? Those, and somewhat similar questions, are answered in this episode of A Life. Or, well... they're not as much answered than discussed... after the feedback... somewhere around there... It's very entertaining, I promise!
Last week's offtopic show ended up to actually have a topic. So we tried again. This time we talk about everything from Adar to warehouse management in space. Mission accomplished!
Being different is probably the worst thing you can be in this world, and you'll never be forgiven for being that. Being asexual is rather different, so the panel discusses how the world has made them pay.
Children. I can't stand them, but fortunately there were other panelists on the show, who have something more constructive to say. In the episode, the panel digs into the prospect of raising them and being one.
Epic topic results in epic runtime. So sit back and enjoy as the panel digs into aromantic considerations with a special guest.
Like it or not, sexuals are all around us and they're multiplying in numbers. Therefore we have to deal with them a lot. That's why the intrepid crew of A Life discusses some common themes that come up when dealing with them.
Most larger minorities have developed a cultural sensibility of their own. Is asexuality one of those minority groups that have achieved that? And if not, why not?
As tradition dictates, it is time to go off topic for our final episode of the year. This naturally means immediate derailment and general confusion in the part of the panelists. Let the festivities begin!
The culture around us is full of sex, that is something we cannot do anything about. So what is a poor asexual soul to do? Well, as luck would have it, most of us still can enjoy sexual culture in one form or another for some more or less convoluted way. That is what we discuss in this edition A Life.
This time around the crew of A Life revisits an old topic well due for a revisit. Gender identity is something that the asexual community talks about often and maybe has a unique angle to.
If 1% of people are asexual then logically 1% of artists should be asexual as well, so why isn't 1% of art asexual? That is the question on the table on this episode of A Life as well as a recap of some of the more popular fictional characters who may or may not be asexual.
Links:
Gay Geekery: Holmes & Asexuality
Asexual Blues
Half Death
Girls With Slingshots
Labels. Some people revel in them, some people hate them. But everybody should probably be aware of them, so that is why labels are the topic of this edition of A Life.
"Coming out" is usually covered a lot in these sorts of podcasts and is universally hailed as a good thing for everybody. But what if you just want to stay in and not deal with the hassle or repercussions of coming out. Is it as respectable and if it is, what are the ways to stay in without blowing your cover? These questions and a lot of tangential sidelines are at the core of this episode of A Life.
This episode of A life has it's hosts tell personal stories of their asexuality and parents, some sex education stories, and more.
Does asexuality have a place in religion? The team discuses this, celibacy and religion itself in this episode of A Life.
The crew leans back with a topicless show once again, which means that more topics are covered than in any regular episode. Among other items of interest, the crew talks about possible health benefits of having sex and the balancing health risks involved, reactions with encountering sexuality in the wild and other considerations of general interest.
Marriage is a very deeply integrated cultural tradition. But how does it apply to asexuality and what are the specific challenges asexuals have to deal with in the context of marriage. We also discuss the meaning of marriage as a practical, cultural and symbolic gesture.
Society has built in an expectation for a person to bring a date for gatherings of several variety. So what to do if you have no desire to bring a date, should you still attend? Should you challenge the expectation or simply ignore it? These are questions that are raised in this episode of A Life.
The challenges in life differ greatly with age, so it's only logical to assume that the same applies to one's asexuality. In this episode of A Life, the crew examines the different social challenges of asexuality as they change with age.
Coming out can be hard and scary for some people. For asexuals, it can be harder because not many people have heard of asexuality. This episode of A Life, we talk about coming out, worst and best responses, personal experiences, and give some tips on how to come out of that closet.
Do asexuals belong in the LGBTQ movement? This is what we dig into on this episode of A Life, using personal and other examples.
This week the intrepid panel of A Life takes a look at psychology of asexuality and especially the ways that asexuals and/or aromantics might teach happiness to sexuals and romantics without the constant need for sex or romance.
After a while, we're taking a day off with another off topic show. We discuss about examples of Asexuality in literature and television, attacks on the Finnish Pride parade and other more or less asexuality-related tangents.
The modern society seems to put extreme pressure on the question of virginity. Who are virgins and who are not? When does one lose their virginity? In this episode of A Life, we examine the question of virginity as it relates to asexuality.
Relationships. They seem to be a big deal in society, but what about for asexuals? On the show we talk about topics about how a romantic relationship is different from a friendship, asexual/sexual relationships, age differences, and more.
Wonderful to be asexual? We'll find out on this episode concentrating on the potential benefits of asexuality as an orientation.
All minorities seem to have their selected symbolism to broadcast and share their identity. Asexual symbols are far newer than others and their origins can be traced. On the show, we dig into the symbols and their origins.
One of the more frequently asked questions from asexuals is: Are we missing out on something? Are we missing one of the great pleasures of life by not having any sex? The question has been asked and answered so many times, that most of us don't stop to think about it anymore. But drilling deeper into the issue reveals a question that is more complex and one that can be approached from several different angles.
Things change in life. Sometimes it means that a show that has finished its run gets renewed. Such is the fate with A Life. We're back and we're going to continue the show every other week, pretending like nothing happened.
In this episode we're talking about shades of being out and how hard it is at times to manage who knows what and how much. Another complication comes into the topic if one is romantic and happens to be in a homoromantic relationship.
We're also looking for new people to join the show, so feel free to contact us. Details can be heard on the show.
Yes, it's true. Unfortunately production and real life issues mounted too much to keep the show going, so this will indeed be the last time the A Life Team gathers to talk about everything asexual. In the final show, we go over the remaining feedback, go over some random issues and explain our reasons for quitting the show.
We'd like to thank everyone who participated in the show by sending comments and contributing in any way. And naturally a special thanks goes out to everyone who listened to the show.
After a technical time-out, the crew is back for another round of asexual goodness. This time the panel tackles the issues involving identifying as asexual, and how that has changed their lives.
The brave crew of A Life survived the dangers of the holiday season and is back for another burst of asexyness. This time the panel discussed about gender, the importance of it and the role of it in the community.
Blog quote from:
Ace of Butterflies: You know, it’s the 21st century…
Christmas is just around the corner, so the team takes it easy by going off topic for an episode. In the process, we manage to talk a little more about marriage, dating, frequency of forced sex, the definition and even manage to get some asexy quotes in the mix. We'll be back, next year. If we're alive, that is.
Do asexuals view marriage differently than sexuals, or is the tradition even relevant to us? What is the difference between legal and religious marriage and how does it factor into it all? The panel discusses these and other issues relating to the topic and a lot of things that have nothing to do with anything, as usual.
Studies have shown that regular sex promotes good mental and physical health as well as promotes longevity. So are we all insane, sick people who die young? One can only hope.
Sexperts seem to have a pretty major problem with asexuality. So as a result, we're not all that fond of them either. But in addition of making juvenile jokes and pointing fingers, we try to drill into the reasons behind this.
Religions usually have clear rules for sexuality and sexual activities, but asexuals are left out as usual. The panelists (eventually) talk about religion as it concerns their orientation and examine some interesting minor religions with different positions about sexuality in general.
Schools, especially during the puberty years, might just be the most sexually charged places you don't have to pay admission to get in. So it's natural that asexuals usually feel pretty isolated and left out. We discuss the problems asexuals face during these formative years of their lives.
Forum Post of the Week:
Asexuality is disgusting!
Blog quote from:
Edge of Everywhere: The Virgin Issue
Poll:
Asexuality and School
We've quoted her so many times that it's only appropriate to turn the limelights to Ily for the duration of this short bonus episode of the show. We talk about her place in the community, her blog and her history as a self-described asexual.
Ily's blog:
Asexy Beast
Twitter accounts:
Ily
Henrik
Reba
As one might guess from the title, we're doing another show without any topic. The discussion bounces around people of walmart, swine flu (ot the pig sniffles), pooping in public and even manages to squeeze in some actual content about the arbitrary nature of genders and the asexual perspective of it.
Blog quote from:
Ace of Hearts: What asexuality is not…
Visibility is something the asexual community talks about a lot. In this episode we go from the obvious to the interesting as we talk about the pros and cons of being visible and dive into the exciting world of stereotypes. In the process, we drive over a few children, murder some nosy people and remain sick.
Forum Post of the Week:
Is it possible to shut people up without having to launch into an explaination?
Blog quote from:
Asexy Beast: To Love Many Things: Mary Oliver
Twitter accounts:
Henrik
Alexa
Reba
This time the brave crew of A Life takes a different approach to the show by not having any formal topic whatsoever. We get the train moving and see where it ends up. That takes us to a lot of different topics including, but not limited to, children and old ladies. And no, we don't forget the zombies either.
Forum Posts of the Week:
Bothersome and persistent old ladies
Collecting song lyrics
Blog quote from:
Asexual Explorations Blog: Lexicon Fail
Poll:
Do you think your sexuality affects your opinion on children?
Even missing Rebecca, the A Life Team goes on and tackles the interesting question of asexual characters in media. We go trough the real, imagined and concrete examples of asexuality in fiction, even if most of it turns out to be just wishful thinking. But at least we get to understand that you can never go wrong with zombies…
Asexuality in the media and the relations of any community with the mainstream media is the subject of this evening's presentation. We discuss the way Asexuality is portrayed in the media and how we can affect the preconceived notions that reporters often have in covering the subject. We also talk about the changing face of journalism in general and how it changes the way we need to interact with each other. David Jay joins the panel.
The panel returns to the question of legitimacy by tackling some of the more popular notions behind the possible causes for Asexuality. Not surprisingly, the conclusions are pretty devastating for the skeptics. In the process, the panelists learn the true nature of elevator music and realize that sometimes they just put out a really stinker of a show.
Coming out to your parents might be the single hardest thing when it comes to asexuality as it is with every minority. In this episode the panelists tell their stories of coming and not coming out to their parents, as well as veer off to all kinds of topics varying from Disney characters to children hitting each other.
The question of Asexuality as a logical part of the wider LGBT community has been debated as long as there has been an Asexual community. We tackle some of the more common points for and against, and tell about our own experiences with the LGBT community.
Starting regular production, we tackle one of the biggest questions the community has to constantly face. Are we legitimate as a sexual orientation or should we even thing about it on those terms? We are also joined by our first quest host, Alexa.
In our first proper episode, we tackle the big issue of asexual communities and why there hasn't been one before the foundation of AVEN some eight years ago and how we found our asexual identities. We also talk about the problems of a community being too dependent on a single site as the only nerve center of activity and the need for more activity outside the web forum.
And here it is, the first episode of A Life. After some difficulties getting the conversation going, Rebecca and Henrik talk about the future of the show and ask for bucketloads of community support to get it really going. Aside for talking about the future of the show, we also talk briefly about the cultural differences of asexual reality, but most of the show is just to introduce and open a discussion with the community about the show.