From Jigsaws to Joy: Sharing Tools with Ashley Perretta

From Jigsaws to Joy: Sharing Tools with Ashley Perretta

Host Asteria Elzea and guest Ashley Perretta explore how community is built through shared resources, creativity, and mutual care — from swing dancing and immersive events to plans for an accessible makerspace in Los Angeles. The episode centers on practical values: sharing tools, time, and skills; honoring cultural roots; and practicing small, sustainable acts that add up to a more connected, collective future.

Grief, Praxis, and Queer Care: Building Community with Sarah Kathleen Wilson

Host Asteria Elzea and guest Sarah Kathleen Wilson explore grief, chronic illness, and neuroqueer identity while centering community-led care. They discuss praxis—turning values into everyday actions—building accessible queer spaces, and lessons from HIV and harm reduction work. The episode covers practical steps for mutual aid, conflict repair, and collapse-oriented preparation, plus Sarah's gender-affirming prenatal hypnotherapy course and ongoing work mentoring care workers.

Sound, Service & Solidarity: Community in Audio with Gilly Moon

Host Asteria Elzea and guest Gilly Moon dive into the craft of sound design, mentorship, and the everyday actions that build inclusive creative communities. They discuss collaborative workflows from game jams to NPR, the often-underappreciated role of audio in storytelling, and how technicians assert expertise with care. The conversation also covers coalition-building, neurodivergence and ADHD, giving clear feedback, and practical ways to help people belong—wrapped up with Gilly’s resources and her work at auralunestudios.com.

Free Nights & Future Roots: Building Community at Miller Outdoor Theater with Claudia de Vasco

Host Asteria Elzea interviews Claudia de Vasco, managing director of Miller Outdoor Theater, about her journey as a neurodivergent Mexican-American arts leader and how the theater uses free programming to reach diverse audiences in Houston. The episode explores accessibility, intentional community-building, bringing younger generations into the arts, and a long-term "seventh-generation" approach to sustainable cultural change.

The Power of Movement and Embodiment: Insights from Laura Dannequin

Welcome to Asteria's Convos, where we embark on a journey of community building and self-discovery. In this episode, host Asteria Elzea sits down with Laura Dannequin, a movement and embodiment practitioner, to explore the fluid nature of identities and the power of connection. Laura shares her unique perspective on community building, the importance of movement in healing, and how we can coexist better in these challenging times. Join us as we delve into the beauty of being in a body and the impact of small acts of kindness on creating positive change. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that reminds us of our shared humanity and the potential for growth and healing in our communities.