The Colorful Conversations Podcast: Recent Episodes
Caitlin Quinn
Welcome to the Colorful Conversations Podcast — where we chat with visionaries, experts, and inspiring adults who are creating new models of how to be in this ever-changing world. Geared towards the coming of age experience, these vibrant conversations are for young people and their families — offering tangible tools and insights to pave a path of your own making, live into your full creative expression, and be well resourced for the future we are building together.
I’m Caitlin — a rainbow resourceress, curious creative, and magical mentor. I’m so glad to be learning alongside you.
In this episode, we are speaking with Amber Boydston about abolition, activism, and using our voices to support our community and the things we care about. Amber is an educator and founder of Spirited Justice, a community organization rooted in somatic abolition.
In this conversation, Amber shares about community care, transformative justice, and the importance of speaking up, at all times, unapologetically, from your heart, with and for one another.
Amber explains that education can be a powerful form of activism, that there were times before police, and policing as a whole, and that it matters to pull from that pre-policing wisdom as we’re trying to envision what creating new systems of accountability and support look like.
This episode asks us the questions:
What are the ways we are tangibly practicing being in community when things are going well, and when there has been harm caused.
How can we have these conversations in ways that inspire all of us to hold everyone with the same levels of support and accountability?
How do we take care of each other?
Here is the Abolition Vocabulary Sheet that is mentioned in this episode.
You can learn more about Amber and Spirited Justice’s work at their Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/spiritedjustice
And you can learn more about The Rainbow School and Caitlin's work at The Reframe Collective here: https://thereframecollective.com/therainbowschool
In this episode, we're speaking with scientist (re)turned storyteller & playmaker, Mary-Elizabeth Harmon about joy, fear, and how to reframe what success means to us.
In this conversation, Mary-Elizabeth explains that when we ask different questions, we open up the space for different results, and that we always have the opportunity to get out of our heads and into our hearts — reminding us that joy is the greatest service we can give - especially when the world looks so scary.
Mary-Elizabeth shares her process for trusting oneself, and reminds us of the Howard Thurman quote, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
Together, we discuss how to use stories as a tool for transformation, how the stories we tell shape the outcome of our lives, and how to give ourselves the permission to dream big.
This episode asks us to consider: What makes me come alive?
You can connect with Mary-Elizabeth and her book completion journey or any of the other colorful and creative community projects she is offering at meharmon.net — there is so much goodness to explore there!
You can learn more about The Rainbow School here: https://thereframecollective.com/therainbowschool
In this episode, we are speaking with Jessica Reanne and Alison Gash, both of whom teach at the University of Oregon and support LGBTQIA students and voices through their non-profit: OurSchool.
In this conversation, Jessica and Allison share their thoughts on how moving with intention and practicing awareness can help us actively create a better world.
Together, we discuss belonging, how trying is the gateway to finding the community and the work that feels best for us, and that there are many different ways to take action and to make change.
Listen in for an inspiring and affirming conversation and check out Alison and Jessica's work with OurSchool!
You can learn more about OurSchool at their website itsourschool.org and follow them on Instagram @itsourschool
You can learn more about The Rainbow School here: https://thereframecollective.com/therainbowschool
*Please note - this episode was recorded in June of 2023 and is being published in November of 2023. There is much in the world that needs our attention right now, and many atrocities happening all over the globe. While in this episode we speak of soft and gentle forms of activism, we also believe that there are moments where we are called in to stand up, speak out, and do more to support and save our collective humanity. We believe that now is one of these times. Please reach out if you need more specific ideas on how to take direct action at this time.
In this episode, we are speaking with Anya Hankin about the beauty of imperfection, the magic of metamorphosis, and the idea of navigating towards, and nurturing, the work of our hearts. Anya is a leadership mentor, word weaver, and idea doula, who helps ground creative sparks into a glowing and sustainable reality. In this conversation, Anya shares about the work of their heart, the major moments that led them on this path of creative catalyzing, and what it's like to move through the world as an empath and sensitive hueman.
Anya explains how the key to finding our heart-work is to get curious around the things that we love, the things that make us happy, and the things that feel easy and natural to us. Reminding us to pay close attention to the spaces where our unique gifts meet the wounds of the world.
Together, we discuss how each of us has things to teach and things to learn, the importance of honoring the wisdom in the room, and how necessary our magic is in the weaving of this new world. This episode asks us to consider: where can I offer my unique expression and gifts to the world?
You can learn more about Anya's work at her website https://www.anyahankin.com/
You can learn more about The Rainbow School here: https://thereframecollective.com/therainbowschool
In this episode, we are speaking with Dianna Fontes about art, astrology and embracing our inner weirdos! Dianna is a magical maker who is committed to building a better world. In this conversation, Dianna shares about how astrology can be used as a guide to self-knowing, an invitation into our shadow work, and a map for following our intuitions.
Dianna explains how astrology can help us to understand our individual needs as well as those of the collective. Together, we discuss how through storytelling and characterization, astrology can set the scene for us to learn, practice, and then learn again — reminding us to be that full colorful weirdos that we are!
You can learn more about Dianna's work at her website AstroArtistry: https://www.astroartistry.com/
You can begin your astrology journey by using the resources Dianna has compiled here.
You can learn more about The Rainbow School here: https://thereframecollective.com/therainbowschool
In this episode I am interviewing myself. Sharing a long-time practice of mine for self-discovery, I play both the interviewer — listening, observing and staying curious — and the interviewee — sharing authentically, vulnerably and in the moment. I hope you enjoy!
You can learn more about The Rainbow School here: https://thereframecollective.com/therainbowschool
You can also reach out to me directly at thereframenw@gmail.com.
In today's episode we are speaking with our dear friend Cara, about art, creativity, and the power of play. Cara shares about their queerness, neurodivergence and how these identity markers can offer a deeper and broader perspective of life. We talk about homeschooling, unschooling and how curiosity is the ideal way to find inspiration and motivation to learn something new.
In this conversation, Cara shares about the importance of having a creative practice, no matter how simple, and how to lean in to to the things we already know to be true to us on this journey of self-discovery and healing.
You can sign up for Cara's heart-felt, truth-telling tender and loving newsletter here: https://caracara.substack.com/
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You can learn more about Caitlin's work with The Rainbow School at thereframecollective.com/therainbowschool
In today's episode we are speaking with blue o'connor about what it means to forge our own path, and how claiming our unique style can help us to cultivate our capabilities + grow our confidence. blue shares about their childhood growing up as a tinkerer — just how meaningful it was to receive their first real tool kit at the age of 10 — and how that set them on a path of leading with curiosity, learning with purpose, and loving the process.
In this conversation, blue shares about the practical applications of math for students ages two and up, and walks us through how they have used math throughout their career as a builder, maker, teacher, artist, carpenter and more!
You can learn more about blue's work as a Pre.School Teacher here: https://thereframecollective.com/preschool and about the upcoming Shop Classes they are offering for kids ages 6-14 at The Reframe Collective in Portland Oregon here: https://thereframecollective.com/shop-classes
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You can learn more about Caitlin's work with The Rainbow School at thereframecollective.com/therainbowschool
The Rainbow School isa vibrant learning space for binary benders and inquisitive souls and folks who don’t quite fit the mold — a place for young people ready to be seen and supported in their full creative expression. There are three Rainbow School cohorts to choose from, separated into age affinity groups: The Luminaries for ages 10-11, Prism for ages 13-15, and Iridessence for ages 18-22. Know a young person who could benefit from this vital learning community? Learn more and schedule a call with Caitlin here.
In today's episode we are talking to Health and Sex Ed Teacher, Emily Zien, about qualities of a healthy relationship ((with others and with ourselves)). Emily shares about the importance of trust, honesty, equality, safety and clear communication in every relationship, and reminds us that when it comes to friendships and relationships, we always get to choose what feels best for us. In this conversation, Emily shares ways we can practice listening to our internal voice, or intuition about what we need and want, what to do when life throws us obstacles and challenges, how to notice the red and green flags of friendship, and why the first and final love is self-love.
You can connect with Emily with questions and collaborations at ms.emily.zien@gmail.com
You can learn more about The Rainbow School at thereframecollective.com/therainbowschool
The Rainbow School is a vibrant learning space for binary benders and inquisitive souls and folks who don’t quite fit the mold — a place for teens and young adults ready to be seen and supported in their full creative expression. There are three Rainbow School cohorts to choose from, separated into age affinity groups: The Luminaries for ages 10-11 (already underway), Prism for ages 13-15 (a virtual cohort designed for homeschoolers), and Iridessence for ages 18-22 (focusing on career development through apprenticeship & mentorship). Know a young person who could benefit from this vital learning community? Learn more and schedule a call with Caitlin here.
In today's episode we are talking to Dr. Kaeri Schaefer about how feeling safety in our bodies leads to us feeling safety in the world — Dr, Kaeri shares about the importance of considering our wholeness when it comes to our health, and reminds us that no matter what, we are the experts on our own bodies. In this conversation, Dr. Kaeri shares practices we can try during moments of intense anxiety, how adorning ourselves can support our inner peace, and why learning about the systems of our bodies liberates us to be healthier, happier huemxns!
You can learn more about Kaeri's work here: www.healthyliving.community
You can learn more about The Rainbow School at thereframecollective.com/therainbowschool
The Rainbow School isa vibrant learning space for binary benders and inquisitive souls and folks who don’t quite fit the mold — a place for young people ready to be seen and supported in their full creative expression. There are three Rainbow School cohorts to choose from, separated into age affinity groups: The Luminaries for ages 10-11, Prism for ages 13-15, and Iridessence for ages 18-22. Know a young person who could benefit from this vital learning community? Learn more and schedule a call with Caitlin here.
In today's episode we are talking to Trinity Capili about being in our bodies consciously — Trinity shares about the importance of noticing our own creature pace, as well as how to create a 'power-on sequence' and how to perform a 'systems check' for ourselves as we move through the world in a body that is uniquely our own.
You can learn more about Trinity's work at www.creaturepace.com
You can learn more about The Rainbow School at thereframecollective.com/the-rainbow-school
Welcome to The Colorful Conversations Podcast!
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Kacy Borba-Spann about the importance of noticing and being present in our bodies.
Find more from Kacy at quercusnaturalhealth.com
Find more from Caitlin & The Rainbow School at thereframecollective.com/the-rainbow-school