Something (rather than nothing‪)‬ Ken Volante

Morgan Parker is a poet, essayist, and novelist. She is the author of the young adult novel Who Put This Song On? [https://www.getunderlined.com/books/592224/who-put-this-song-on-by-morgan-parker/]; and the poetry collections Other People's Comfort Keeps Me Up At Night [https://www.amazon.com/Other-Peoples-Comfort-Keeps-Night/dp/0986187615/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483403242&sr=1-1&keywords=other+people%27s+comfort+keeps+me+up+at+night], There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé [https://tinhouse.com/product/there-are-more-beautiful-things-than-beyonce-morgan-parker/], and Magical Negro [https://tinhouse.com/product/magical-negro/], which won the 2019 National Book Critics Circle Award. She is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship, winner of a Pushcart Prize, and has been hailed by The New York Times as "a dynamic craftsperson" of "considerable consequence to American poetry."

Parker's debut book of nonfiction, You Get What You Pay For   [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/576870/you-get-what-you-pay-for-by-morgan-parker/9780525511441/] is available at your favorite bookstore.

Ruby Roth [https://www.rubyroth.art/work]'s work is defined by the female form and depicts the inner lives of women through emotionally visceral representations of the bodies they inhabit.

For the past several years, amidst a radical transition from a decade of familial life as a best-selling children's book author-illustrator to self-determined independence as a single female artist, Roth has explored the deep end of the feminine spectrum and its archetypes.

Roth's work often features solitary women navigating inner and outer wildernesses. In vast emptiness, surrounded by hints of nature, her wild women and "girl gods" find their way through physical and spiritual dimensions of darkness and light, bondage and freedom, apocalypse and utopia, life and death, transmuting nourishing or toxic forces into usable means.

Roth has been a keen observer of the body since childhood, having been diagnosed with scoliosis, which required 13 years of aggressive and painful treatment. Rooted in academic anatomy and pop surrealism, her artwork——often created in live-model sessions——exaggerates and distorts female forms to reflect them as vessels of powerful, feminine processing.

Roth is based in Los Angeles, CA.

SRTN Website [https://www.somethingratherthannothing.com/]

Mark Ostler joins the show to kick around comic books - specifically his work Ivar the Boxer and Waltzing Carpet Juliette [https://www.etsy.com/hk-en/listing/870231142/ivar-the-boxer-waltzing-carpet-juliette?dd_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2F]

We also talked about Warning: Danger!  [https://warningdanger.net/about.php]

Mark Ostler is a comic book writer and publisher.  In 2023, he wrapped up a 4 issue mini-series titled, "Waltzing Carpet Juliette" about the dangers of consumerism.  In 2024, he began a new self-published comic book series titled, "Ivar The Boxer".

Mark Ostler can't draw comics.  Thankfully, he's got talented friends who are skilled artists.  Thus far, 37 different illustrators have contributed artwork to these collaborative comic books.  What began as a creative daydream has blossomed into an incredible comic book community.  Together, we're creating "Waltzing Carpet Juliette" and "Ivar The Boxer".

Mark is also the lead singer of "WARNING: DANGER!" – a Seattle based punk band.  They have released 7 different albums, embarked on 3 West Coast tours, produced 4 different videos, featured on 2 compilation albums and 1 movie soundtrack.  Check out WARNING: DANGER!'s music on all major streaming platforms.

Sometime soon, a major publishing house might pick up Mark's comics or music.  

Check out Episode 265!!!

SRTN [https://www.somethingratherthannothing.com/]

This episode is very different than others. Jim LaBelle, this episode's featured guest, passed away recently. I wish, hope and pray that our conversation gives tribute to Jim's contributions and advocacy. Thank you and farewell Jim. 

Host Ken Volante

"There are certain individuals that go under the radar their entire lives despite being one of the most resilient people in the room, and that is without question Jim LaBelle. A father, world traveler, lawyer, disability advocate and professor, Jim's story isn't well known to many, but we hope to change that. A quadriplegic since 1969 and passing on April 21st, 2024, he was paralyzed for nearly 55 years and showed a life can be well lived in spite of paralysis." 

Spinalpedia Blog

"For over fifty years, I have been pushing my chair. I graduated from law school and passed the bar exam in three states. My travels took me to twenty-three countries. My story is not an inspirational anecdote; it's about finding love, losing love, grief, joy, and single parenthood.

Don't call me 'bound' or 'confined' to my wheelchair. My chair gives me freedom.

A wheelchair user today has more rights than one did fifty years ago. Yet there are still many obstacles in finding housing, transportation, employment, and medical care.

I am not trying to be a role model, just a possibility. There are obstacles, and people may not always treat you properly, but there is progress."

Jim LaBelle

Blend a background in fast-paced PR, political campaigns, and a lot of roll-up-your-sleeves energy, and you've Stuart Collective founder and CEO Kathleen Stuart.

Kathleen founded Stuart Collective in 2017. With a crystal-clear mission to support changemakers in securing progressive wins, Kathleen works every day to win campaigns, pass high-profile legislation, and influence public opinion.

Kathleen brings over a decade of on-the-ground political work in campaigns and leading PR strategies. As a result, she advises leading progressive organizations that impact all the spaces — from healthcare to housing to infrastructure and more — that Stuart Collective shares with its clients.

Stuart Collective  [https://www.stuartcollective.co/who]

Ivana Yellowback is a member of Manto Sipi Cree Nation – God's River (maternal family) and a relative to Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (paternal family). She is both Asiniskow Ithinew ekwa Muskego Ininew (High Rock and Muskeg Cree).

Ivana an Associate Producer, Writer, Cree host, and English co-host of Eagle Vision's and APTN's 7TH GEN Home (7thgen.ca) [https://www.7thgen.ca/] \ Cree Webisodes | 7TH GEN [https://www.7thgen.ca/cree-webisodes-1] (2022/2023/2024). She has also acted as principal characters in "DJ Burnt Bannock" (2021) The Team — DJ Burnt Bannock [https://www.djburntbannock.com/the-team], along with "Little Bird" (2023) 'Little Bird,' From Fremantle, Rezolution: Jennifer Podemski Talks - Variety [https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/little-bird-canada-stolen-generation-rezolution-pictures-1235509434/].

Ivana holds a 4-year Bachelor of Arts HONOURS degree at the University of Winnipeg (4-Year Honours BA: Sociology, Minor: Conflict Resolution Studies), and a Bachelor of Social Work degree at the University of Manitoba. She is also starting her Masters of Social Work degree this upcoming Fall at the University of Manitoba.

Ivana holds 10+ years of experience in social services work, spanning from program development and implementation, facilitation, and workshop trainings (various), youth mentorship and leadership, and social advocacy and counselling.

Ivana is an Executive Training Facilitator (with Indigenous Leadership Development Institute Inc.), an executive board member for sakihiwe festival, and is an oskâpêwiskwew (helper) member of the Indigenous Helpers Society.  She is also a trained Traditional Family Parenting facilitator, a Grief and Loss Facilitator, and Indigenous Life Skills Coach. Ivana's most important roles and work is being an aunty, pipe carrier, lodge carrier, drum carrier and singer.

SRTN Website [https://www.somethingratherthannothing.com/]