The Gargoyles

#22: Do YOU Deserve A Break?

How comfortable are we with breaks? In this episode we read about people going through different struggles where the common theme is the desire for a better relationship with this word.  This word can mean so many things, and we explore the potential benefits that we can attain from a variety of contexts. Whether that is taking breaks to consider/reconsider relationship dynamics, breaks to recharge, breaks to listen: Do we even know how to acknowledge when our body and mind are requesting us to slow down? Are we aware when we are overwhelming others? Even the people causing pain need a break to realize what their issues are. We also discuss situations where breaks are unpleasant and unwarranted and the importance to set boundaries and know when NOT to stop. Bottom line is, you need to have your mind at ease in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle as you keep moving forward. Join us in this fun conversation and let us know what you think! Thanks for the support! Check our links - linktr.ee/gargoyles [https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2Fgargoyles&e=ATPGyroJKVEyUlrheqkCK47fIWykezwlVioyYTDfuRfTsPZRFJAi97J7O6DxUjs9EHcyor-ntbCAj_1d4GoX5G4&s=1] Art logo by The Indigo Lauren - https://www.theindigolauren.com/ Shout out and congratulations to Windila! - IG: https://www.instagram.com/windilabalbone/ Check out Thought Catalog for poetry and thinking pieces - https://thoughtcatalog.com "Please Forgive Me When I Break Your Heart" - https://bit.ly/3vSslvQ Speakers: Bianka Bencosme (Co-host) Tomás Guerrero (Co-host)

#21: Friendships: Creating and Sustaining Them

Relationships as an umbrella term can take many forms. Exploring them as such could offer us clarity into certain individual aspects, and the same goes when exploring the subcategory of friendships. There isn't an exact science or timeline to follow that could tell us when these deeper bonds get to develop. As we've seen it, it's usually an accidental measure that tends to happen within specific contexts. 3 long time friends sit in the recording booth and analyze this phenomenon. Taking a look at different types of "entry points" that tend to plant the seed of potential. Developing friendships and sustaining them requires mental work and energy, but the benefits of letting people in can go as far as expanding parts of own we love and parts we weren't aware existed. The 3 of them share what they've seen work for them and others, and contextualize it to this cyber-connected pandemic reality, where communities can develop without the need to leave the comfort of our homes. They also explore how the topic of love factors in as one of the pillars for establishing long terms bonds. Just like any other form of relationships friendships are complex, becoming aware of the components that make it, can help us strengthen what works and re-structure what doesn't. Our links - linktr.ee/gargoyles [https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2Fgargoyles&e=ATPGyroJKVEyUlrheqkCK47fIWykezwlVioyYTDfuRfTsPZRFJAi97J7O6DxUjs9EHcyor-ntbCAj_1d4GoX5G4&s=1] Read Thich Nhat Hanh's How To Love - https://bit.ly/3tljVuR Support small artists! Roobi's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/roobigaskins/ Shout out to Loretta Ross. To know more about calling-in culture, check out this podcast episode: https://spoti.fi/33oifpT Speakers: José Alexander (IG: https://www.instagram.com/momose13/ ) Salim Chagüi (IG: https://www.instagram.com/salim_chagui/ ) Tomás Guerrero (Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hitomaag )

#20: Cancel Culture: Lil Nas X, Christianity, & Art Expression

Another day another controversy. Just recently the internet was ablaze and had a lot to say over Lil Nas X's music video and persona. We decided to analyze this situation and the rage it caused in some due to the demoralization and romanticization of certain Christian elements. Cancel Culture can often feel as the modern version of the witch trials, where there's less pondering and more condemnation. The freedom of art expression seems to be tethered by certain socially constructed limitations where its gatekeepers forbid the type of conversations that invites debate. Tomás Guerrero, a queer folk with strong religious background explores with co-host, Bianka Bencosme, the double standards and shaky foundation of belief systems that this type of behavior implies within the Christian context. They go in depth analyzing what the Bible considers as sin and find some problematic assumptions that are usually made because of lack of research. Why do some prioritize the scrutiny of certain beliefs over others? What is the problem with dealing in absolutes? Is there a differentiation in the support of BIPOC men in hip hop vs. BIPOC queer men in hip hop? Is the internet an accurate representation of interpersonal behavior or is it aiding towards the perception of a certain toxic cycle? Come explore with us all these ideas and let us know what you think! Our links - https://linktr.ee/gargoyles [https://linktr.ee/gargoyles?fbclid=IwAR0WZH7BDQtnD9F4u7_0i-d1kZryFpc5o8ch68TF6dIb1bsHB7g2TD22qC8] Art logo by The Indigo Lauren - https://www.theindigolauren.com/ Shout out the The Nile List - https://www.onelinkup.co/theNileList Shout out to Talaya Monea! - https://www.instagram.com/talayatheehoodhistorian/ Speakers: Tomás Guerrero (Co-Host) Bianka Bencosme (Co-Host)

#19: Pandemic Anniversary: How We Did & How We Are Doing

We made it a year into the pandemic! As the pandemic continues and the hardships of the day by day keeps us going, we tend to forget that some of these struggles are fairly new. This speaks volume on our capabilities for adaptation, which should be acknowledged and celebrated. Many of us have faced very particular struggles ranging from mental health to surviving school within this new context. No matter your performance, the most important thing is that you have made it. You are alive and that's enough. Co-hosts Bianka Bencosme and Tomás Guerrero take a journey of retrospective and introspective. They discuss what they've learned so far and how these lessons have influenced aspects such as: the social atmosphere, the grief and acceptance of unexpected results in life goals, and the behavior of our society and how it's shifted throughout the months. Finally, they take a look at the pandemic today and take that information to make projections for what lies ahead. Our links: https://linktr.ee/gargoyles [https://linktr.ee/gargoyles?fbclid=IwAR2vdY6-snXxqmV2uBdyv_GRxOk7Fp39NwJsvGb31JVL5GMecfBf41f6yFc] Art logo by The Indigo Lauren - https://www.theindigolauren.com/ Speakers: Bianka Bencosme (Co-host) Tomás Guerrero (Co-host)

#18: Women Share Their Writings

As part of our Women History Month celebration, we invited two great folk who identify themselves as women to share some poetry and talk about women in writing. The readings and the topics that arose from them created some amazing conversations thanks to the wisdom and experience from each speaker. When finding meaning behind words, everyone has a unique perspective on how to interpret them. That's the beauty of writing, it's all about feeling. Sociologist Shaundraneka Gills and French Studies Windila Balbone discuss with co-host Bianka Bencosme the stigma folk experience around expressing feelings in writing and how therapeutic this medium can actually be. The readings ranged from self love and hope, to depression and generational trauma, with in depth discussions in the creative process and reason behind each piece. Finally, they each talked about their struggles when writing becomes hard and shared advice on what to do to find creative flow. Our links: https://linktr.ee/gargoyles [https://linktr.ee/gargoyles?fbclid=IwAR24IHJWVZILXIO_ofN_WcOHyJUXK8_3TGry2CjXqvuL8otu8tyOrAJkuFo] Art logo by The Indigo Lauren - https://www.theindigolauren.com/ Shout out links: Two Straight White Men - https://www.instagram.com/twostraightwhitemen/ Celebrate 845 - https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.845/ Hillary Beaudouin - https://www.instagram.com/hsbeaud/ Speakers: Shaundraneka Nakia Gills (IG: https://www.instagram.com/shaunakills/) Windila Balbone (IG: https://www.instagram.com/windilabalbone/) Bianka Bencosme (Co-host)