In 1982, in a speech to Harvard University, Audrey Lorde famously said, “. . .If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive.”

Quotes are inspiring.

And, seeing them put into action is empowering.

That is why this week’s guests, Alex and Ash Sullivan, are two of my favorite people.

Despite the pressure of a white supramcist capitalist patriarchy,
They define themselves for themselves every single day.

As they will share in the episode - that doesn’t mean it is easy.
I mean - how does one go about living their bold self without being eaten alive?

Let this interview be a roadmap that can guide you to your own internal answer to that question.

Oh - and did I mention that this episode is being released on their birthday?

*Cue the confetti*

For real though - Ash and Alex are the best.

Alex Sullivan is the Co-Founder of Artists Call to Action. They are also a dope poet, facilitator, activist, educator and freelance diversity consultant in academia.

As a mixed agender human being, Alex’s work is often reflective of how the self is presented in the digital world and how current socio-political events can distort that presentation.

Their creative and academic work is focused on the black queer experience and every aspect of it, frequently tying in themes of womanism, examination of power structures in the United States, and the experience of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora as the communities have spread out all over the world.

Ashley Sullivan is a counselor-in-training and poet who is currently being considered for licensure, actively publishing, and putting energy into other creative endeavors such as starting their own business.

Ash is balancing pursuing a career in poetry while also pursuing work in mental health and public health. Currently, they have been published in five or more running publications as well as fulfilling activism work centered around gender, creativity, and community.

They are a current candidate for their Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Long Island University.

On this week’s episode we go all in on:

creativity,
activism,
learning to trust yourself,
finding your own voice,
the unique relationship Ash and Alex have with each other,
getting comfortable with your own silence,
getting to know yourself better, and,

Well...you’re gonna need to push play to find that out!

We could all invite a little more grace, community, and courage into our lives.

And Ash and Alex deliver all of that and more in abundance on this week’s episode.

Let’s do this.

Hit play.

And join us.

Check out their past interviews here http://www.tomearl.com/blog/alex

And here http://www.tomearl.com/blog/ash

Check out Ash’s LinkedIn here https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-sullivan-631573135/
Check out Ash’s Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/three.of.four/

Find out more about the Artist’s Call to Action here https://actartist.com/
Check out ACTA on Facebook and Instagram at https://www.facebook.com/artistscalltoaction/ and https://www.instagram.com/artists.call.to.action/