Jo Lee Week-Lee

It's time to own that I need to change in order for my circumstances to change. So, after 10 years of long hair, I did the chop. "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." Albert Einstein read the hell out of me without even getting to know me. Rude.  In all seriousness, last week I found myself being challenged to disrupt my own patterns and cycles of belief. I realized that I was attaching expectations and visions for myself to my hair. I needed to let that go. So, on Sunday morning, I woke up, sectioned off my hair, braided it, and cut it off on Facebook Live. (Because I'm a stunt queen.) Happy Birthday, indeed. It's time to go after the things I say that I want and create the world I believe is possible. Let's go get 'em. Stay wonderful, Jo Lee Subscribe to the podcast on: YouTube  Apple Podcasts  Spotify  Google Podcasts Music Check out my debut single, 'Sweet Love':  https://jolee.fanlink.to/swtlv  Theylist: QTPOC - A playlist of dope music by queer and TGNC artists of color: https://jolee.link/theylistQTPOC  Become my patron If you love what I'm doing and believe in the vision, you can sponsor me on Patreon, contribute to my growth, and join my adventure party. 

I am SO happy to be back in the saddle with a new machine and improved workflow. My original lap top finally bit the dust and it's taken me a minute to get all the gears back in motion. I'm looking forward to getting back on the ball with the music and the podcast. In great news, TONEWALL took home the semi-final trophy at the International Aca-Open Competition. Now we're looking forward to competing at Carnegie Hall with the best a cappella groups and singers in the country. Snagging this trophy was no mean feat. July also brought a few lessons home. Many of them about my professional relationships and boundaries. I also have to challenge my relationship with money and with life in general. I feel a bit disengaged from actually living my life and being present, not only with the people I love, but with the goals I want to achieve. I'm finally admitting to myself that I have a tendency to put the cart before the horse and am not the most talented project manager. What are things you do to manage your goals?  And, yes, I know that Lil Nas X is talking about sports cars, but roll with me, a'right? 

Pride weekend brought the party and the bullshit, y'all. This episode is a little longer than I would normally like, but a theydie had some THOUGHTS. PrideFest and the march were incredible experiences. I'm disappointed in how much of what was going on behind the scenes was mismanaged and how that affects us as a community. The whole experience was alarmingly saturated with corporate visibility and NYC Pride needs to figure out how to get back to its roots. On June 28, I had the very special privilege of being fed by and hearing the first hand account from Martin Boyce, one of the Stonewall vets. A very special thank you to Timorell and Steady Mess for a beautiful evening at PrideTable. I won't ever, ever forget it. As incredible as World Pride and Stonewall 50 weekend was, it's important to remember there's still work to do. On Saturday, the cops forced Queen Amor (a queer person of color) out of Washington Square Park during the celebrations following the Dyke March. On Thursday night, a Black trans woman demanded to be heard to speak about the murders of Black trans women in America. The patrons jeered and threatened to call the cops on her. Among the souls who stood up for her were Leada Stray, who shared her account of what unfolded. Go to jolee.link/week7 to watch the video. In the next 11 months until Pride 2020, I'm sending you love, joy, and more Pride. Stay wonderful, Jo Lee

Managing yourself in general can be challenging. Sometimes it's downright overwhelming. It's easy for me to feel like "Oh, I should be better at this". But, truth of the matter is, no one teaches you that skill. And when things start piling up, that turns into self-neglect. Then the neglect just spirals down toward a depressed episode and you wonder how you got stuck there. The past several weeks since starting the podcast, I noticed the most significant change for the better in how I manage my energy and my attention.  I'm not suddenly a master, but I think I'm finding systems that work for me. Special birthday shout outs to my This QPOC Life co-hosts @blasianfma and @tresfabuleux. And props to listener and friend @raffy_regulus for your incredible leadership with NYC Gaymers (@nycgaymers). Stay wonderful, Jo Lee  Listen to my music on your favorite service: https://ffm.to/jo-lee_sweet-love.opr Become my patron on Patreon and become part of my story: https://www.patreon.com/callmejolee

If the title isn't enough for you to understand where this one is going... Father's Day brings up a tangle of feelings, but nowadays it's for a different reason. I unpack some grieving and it helps me get down to the root of why music matters so much to me.  I also talk about Pose and how the stories of QTPOC are more than enough to create something really excellent. (I love you, Pop. Thank you for the music.) Stay wonderful,  Jo Lee @callmejolee Listen to my music on your favorite service: https://ffm.to/jo-lee_sweet-love.opr You can become my patron on Patreon to keep the music going: https://www.patreon.com/callmejolee