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Mindful Mondays: The Art of Change

Join Jonny and Holly as they discuss the process of change. Nothing changes if nothing changes. Embrace the fact that change can be positive, that change is a choice. Let Holly teach us how change as a force can be transformative.

 

Cinematic Considerations: Godzilla Minus One

Plot: “Post war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.” -IMBD

Review: I hesitate to call any film perfect. The debate and expectations such a lofty statement creates often keep me from trusting my initial reaction. Instead, I often say, “this film is perfect for me, and my version of perfection will differ from yours.”  

I find perfection in films that can elicit a strong emotional reaction, which is often drawn from a profound sense of empathy, but it can also be joy, happiness, anxiety, frustration, or a thousand other emotions. The more I considered Godzilla Minus One, the more I found myself consumed by its ability to elicit awe. Without a doubt in my mind, this is the greatest Godzilla movie ever made. It reminded me of Fridays spent with my brothers, watching classic monster movies. It reminded me of the magic of cinema.  

Pilot Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) serves as the through line in this story. It is his story that becomes so much more than a personal journey. Rather, his redemptive story reflects and mirrors the journey of his country of Japan.  

In the last days of World War II, Shikishima lands on an island off the coast of Japan. We are led to believe his Kamikaze mission failed because of mechanical issues with his plane. It is not long before we discover this is far from the truth. This serves as his brush with cowardice, but it will not be his last. As Godzilla rises from the sea to take the small island, destroying his plane, and killing almost everyone stationed there, Shikishima experiences his second brush with cowardice. Unable to pull the trigger and kill the attacking monster, he escapes the island with little more than his life.  

He returns home with a wounded ego. This version of Japan differs vastly from the one he left. In the shadow of two atomic bombs and war, his fellow citizens attempt to pick up the pieces and start again. For Shikishima, his shame is becoming all-consuming, but he is no longer alone. As he returns to his family’s home, he encounters a young woman, Noriko Oishi (Minami Hamabe), with an orphaned child and nowhere to turn. In her hour of need, he offers them a place to stay. Here, the road to redemption begins. 

As Shikishima and Japan begin again at zero, out at sea, the same atomic weapons that leveled their cities are forcing Godzilla to morph and grow. When Shikishima takes a job on a small patrol boat meant to sweep mines from the sea, we get our first encounter with Godzilla in his new God-like form. Massive beyond description, a captivating chase scene unfolds. It is in this jaw dropping and awe-inspiring scene that I first felt a hint of perfection. As Shikishima and his shipmates escape with their lives, we know this is just the beginning. The monster from the deep will not find satisfaction. He will come ashore, and Japan will take one more step backward.  

When Godzilla finally attacks, he does so with utter devastation and calamity. Far removed from the orgy of CGI that defines most Hollywood movies, the hell Godzilla unleashes here feels believable. The filmmakers draw you into this moment by using sound in some clever and creative ways. For the rest of my film-watching days, I will remember the quiet chaos of these moments.  

Despite the rubble, death, and destruction, the Japanese people do not lose hope. A grassroots effort and a plan to send Godzilla back to the sea leads the path toward redemption. This plan doesn’t come from high above. It is put into action by the common man. For Shikishima, it presents the perfect opportunity to rise above his past failures. It is an opportunity to take part in “a war not yet won.”  

The concluding battle is not something I will spoil. It is both a spectacle, yet beautiful in its simplicity. More than ordinary people warring against a gigantic creature, it is filled with symbolism stretching beyond the bounds of this film. On display is the triumph of man, a new chapter for the Japanese people, and a new day for Japan on the world stage. It is these moments that sealed this film’s fate for me. This is as close to perfection as a science fiction film can get. 

Be good to each other,

Nathan  

Visit Nathan at

Bears of a Certain Age with Jonny and Scott Episode 19

Welcome to “Bears of a Certain Age,” the lifestyle podcast for the bear and chub communities and their admirers, who are approaching 50 years young and up. Your Co-Hosts are Scott Fullerton from the Left of Str8 Radio Network and Jonny Shuffield from The Queer Centric. Scott and Jonny have both been entertaining the lgbtq community thru their own podcasts for a combined 20 years, and Jonny has been an entertainer and host for many lgbtq events beyond that.

We have a special guest in studio with us today, as James Butler from The Bears Network (www.thebearsnetwork.com) on Twitter at @bigboyproject 1 and on Instagram @thebearsnetwork

We very much want this to be a listener driven show, so we are asking our audience to submit questions for our “Ask The Bears” segment; submit “Bear Hugz” for people who deserve a little public praise; Tell us about their favorite things for our “Bear Necessities Segment; and any other goofy puns that Scott can think up. Submit everything to podcastbears@gmail.com

We hope you will enjoy this episode and on YouTube, will click the little bell to get notified for future episodes. We will be up every Wednesday and will also be available on Spotify, iTunes, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeart Radio, and more. Please “SHARE THE BEARS” with your friends and please give us a Thumbs Up or a 5 Star Rating so more people will be able to find us. You can follow our social media at “@bearsofacertainage” on Instagram, Threads, and Tik Tok, and look for our website soon.

Bears of a Certain Age with Scott and Jonny Episode 18

Welcome to “Bears of a Certain Age,” the lifestyle podcast for the bear and chub communities and their admirers, who are approaching 50 years young and up. Your Co-Hosts are Scott Fullerton from the Left of Str8 Radio Network and Jonny Shuffield from The Queer Centric. Scott and Jonny have both been entertaining the lgbtq community thru their own podcasts for a combined 20 years, and Jonny has been an entertainer and host for many lgbtq events beyond that.

We very much want this to be a listener driven show, so we are asking our audience to submit questions for our “Ask The Bears” segment; submit “Bear Hugz” for people who deserve a little public praise; Tell us about their favorite things for our “Bear Necessities Segment; and any other goofy puns that Scott can think up. Submit everything to podcastbears@gmail.com

We hope you will enjoy this episode and on YouTube, will click the little bell to get notified for future episodes. We will be up every Wednesday and will also be available on Spotify, iTunes, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeart Radio, and more. Please “SHARE THE BEARS” with your friends and please give us a Thumbs Up or a 5 Star Rating so more people will be able to find us. You can follow our social media at “@bearsofacertainage” on Instagram, Threads, and Tik Tok, and look for our website soon.

In this episode, Scott and Jonny discuss their holiday experiences and reflect on their lack of festive spirit. They talk about their busy schedules and the pressure of overbooking themselves. The conversation then shifts to gift exchanges and the challenges of shopping for loved ones. They also discuss managing expectations and the loneliness that can come with the holiday season. Scott shares his retirement plans and the disappointment of expensive gift cards. They conclude by talking about taking a hiatus from their podcast and their future projects. In this conversation, Scott and Queerly Jonny discuss the importance of reinvention and self-reflection. They also highlight a documentary called ‘Relighting Candles’ and a candle business that supports homeless and recovering individuals. The conversation then shifts to the significance of World AIDS Day and the impact of the movie ‘Longtime Companion’. They conclude with advice for the holiday season and a playful discussion about potential changes in the new year.

(VC)The QueerCentric EP 60: Josh Cozart

Join Jonny as he sits down with Portland’s KOIN weatherman Josh Cozart to chat about visibility and living out loud, being so authentic and open in media! Catch his very entertaining instagram @joshcozartwx

 

The QueerCentric EP 60: Josh Cozart

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Join Jonny as he sits down with Portland’s KOIN weatherman Josh Cozart to chat about visibility and living out loud, being so authentic and open in media! Catch his very entertaining instagram @joshcozartwx

 

The QueerCentric is the companion podcast to the popular digital magazine of the same name (www.thequeercentric.com ).  This is a place to go beyond the pages, to talk about what is happening around us and to have meaningful conversations about the World and culture as it affects the LGBTQ+ people.  The magazine was only one step in uncovering our voices again.  It is important to step up and speak out, for as the World has proven, we cannot afford to be silent even for a minute.  Who said we can’t have fun along the way!

Mindful Mondays: Trust But Verify – Listening For Red Flags

Join Jonny and Holly as they discuss the pitfalls of red flags. Why do we ignore them? How can we learn to notice them better and not work against ourselves? Let’s listen to what Holly has to say about this.

Cinematic Considerations: The Holdovers

Plot: “A cranky history teacher at a remote prep school is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a troubled student who has no place to go.” -IMDB

Review: Every student I have ever known circled the holidays on their calendar. The welcome break, custom-built into the calendar, meant time with family, holiday traditions, presents, and a much-needed vacation from school. Then, during my freshman year of college, I had to return to the dorms early. I had a job at a retail bookstore. It being the holidays and the busiest time of the year, I could not convince my supervisor to give me the entire two weeks off.  

Walking around the dorm, much to my amazement, I came to discover I was not alone. The halls were still eerily empty except for the international students who couldn’t make the long flight home, and students, such as myself, forced back to the trenches of holiday retail. It should have seemed so obvious, but I never realized the potential stories that could be told about those left behind.  

The Holdovers focuses on a remote prep academy for boys and their professor who rules with an iron fist, Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti). With the holidays lurking around the corner and final exams complete, the students dream of hitting the slopes, visiting family and friends, and escaping to exotic locations. For an unlucky group of four students, there will be no reprieve or escape from the hallowed halls of the prep school. No one is coming to rescue them. They are holdovers, and they are stuck spending the holidays with Professor Hunham.  

From this concept, one of the funniest, emotionally rich, and cutting comedies I have seen in years is born. The film explores every facet of the characters who anchor this story. From entitlement to loss and to a closed off life, nothing is safe or off the record. Things get even more interesting when four of the students leave campus with permission to join a fellow student at a mountain escape. This leaves one student standing, Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), alongside the professor and Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), the campus cook.  

Heartbroken and disappointed, we find Angus dismayed by his circumstances. Naturally, he tests the limits of his professor. This provides some of the funniest moments of the film, but it also provides moments of emotional breakthrough as each character explores their personal definitions of home.  

While the relationship between Angus and Professor Hunham is fascinating to watch unfurl, it is Mary Lamb, played masterfully by Randolf, that serves as the heart of this film. Angus and the professor are mirror images of each other, but meet Lamb as she works through the complexities of a child lost to war. By every measure, her story colors the background of the film and gives it a richness I did not expect.  

As this movie enters its third act, we escape the stuffiness of campus. Mary heads toward the comforting arms of family. Angus and Professor Hunham turn toward Boston. In these moments, we see the culmination of all we have built toward. It is these scenes where an unshakable truth reveals itself, and we witness a true evolution.  

From the trailer alone, I expected this film to be funny. I did not expect it to be so emotionally gripping and heartfelt. Without a doubt, it is a movie I will return to again and again with the passing of each holiday season.  

Be good to each other,

Nathan  

Visit Nathan at

The QueerCentric EP 59: It’s a POP UP! at Lunarium!

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Join Jonny as he sits down with owner of the late night tea and coffee house, Aimee Clark. We spill some tea, learn some tea facts and take a little tea journey! Oh yeah and we talk about creating a third space, being a queer ally and just being awesome humans! Thank you to our live audience!

Tasted Teas:

Tranquilitea

Buddha’s kitchen sink! A calming and rejuvenating blend of rooibos, spearmint, lemongrass, nettle, lavender passionflower, lemon verbena, rose petals, willow bark, plum and, mallow petals

Cocoa Noir Chai

Black tea and cocoa beans stumbled into my office like a pair of black cats. I knew right away that this would be a chai-spicy case.

Yong De” Blue Label Pu-Erh

A great intro to pu-erh teas from Yunnan Sourcing! This shu puer tea has an earthy, woodsy and dark base with a honey finish.

Moli Longzhu (Jasmine Pearls)

An Incredibly floral green tea courtesy of Seven Cups from Fujian Province. A calming jasmine aroma that lasts through multiple infusions

Visit Lunarium- https://lunariumspokane.com/

Watch for more The QueerCentric Pop-Up Podcasts

Mindful Mondays: Surviving The Holidays

The holidays can be stressful and even triggering to many people. How can we step back and own ourselves more this time of year? Remake the holidays for you this year.

 

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