Something (rather than nothing‪)‬ Ken Volante

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]

The world's safest punk band! Warning: Danger! began with Mark Ostler's idea for a video project, called "Holly FLipS," about a girl freaking out and destroying things after a bad breakup. Mark wanted some theme music for the video and recruited some friends to help record the song. The recording of the song would have been the beginning and end of the project if they had not been invited by friends to play a show at The Funhouse. The band quickly wrote five more songs in order to be able to play the show. Warning: Danger!'s unusual performance was a hit and the band was invited to play more show dates which gradually led to W:D! becoming a "real band." Meanwhile the "Holly FLipS" video project got sidelined, but was eventually completed years later.

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/]

Teghan Hammond and Mel Hammond are sisters who grew up punching each other whenever they saw a P.T. Cruiser, dying their hair blue together, and fabricating a fake band in which their middle brother was (allegedly) the lead singer. Writing Lucy, Uncensored was their first time co-writing. Unless you count the summer they spent scribbling down recipes for the strangest sandwiches you've ever heard of, like the Tax Exemption Wrap (Teghan) and the Nail Gun Sandwich (Mel).

Today, Teghan lives in northern Indiana, where she drinks excessive amounts of coffee and volunteers for LGBTQIA+ causes. When she's not tearing down gender norms, Teghan is probably watching cartoons or gaming. Mel lives in Madison, Wisconsin, where she writes books in a rainbow-painted room. Besides writing, she loves walking in the woods and eating dairy-free ice cream. Between the two of them, Teghan and Mel have four adorable cats.

* www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/750113/lucy-uncensored-by-mel-hammond-and-teghan-hammond/
[https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/750113/lucy-uncensored-by-mel-hammond-and-teghan-hammond/]Folks can also preorder from their local indie bookstores. ISBN is 9780593814055.
Publisher is Knopf Books for Young Readers
* Website: www.melhammondbooks.com [http://www.melhammondbooks.com/]
* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hamtasticduo
* Mel's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hamsandwichmel/
* SRTN Website [https://www.somethingratherthannothing.com/]

Special Spring 2024 NYC Fringe Festival episode with three dynamic creators!

Lauren O'Brien presents Lolo's Boyfriend Show [https://www.frigid.nyc/event/6897:630/] - a new comedic solo show, the writer is also the performer;

Suzanne Bachner presents Conversations with My Divorce Attorney [http://conversationswithmydivorceattorney.com/] - the playwright also directs the two hander play which she started writing many years ago when she was getting a divorce. Her current husband stars as her divorce attorney;

Jude Treder-Wolff presents FASTER [https://www.frigid.nyc/event/6897:627/] - real life therapist and playwright wrote a new show about how technology is speeding up our lives. She also performs the play.

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

NYC Fringe [https://www.frigid.nyc/festivals/frigid-festival/]