Welcome back to This Person I Met! My name is Kayla and I’m the host of this podcast.

Since the release of Heated Rivalry, a show commissioned by Canada’s Crave and distributed by HBO Max originally written by Rachel Reid, queer media has had some of the greatest visibility I’ve personally ever seen in my life. From Young Royals to Red, White, and Royal Blue to Girls Like Girls to Leviticus, it seems as if, finally, queer folk are being eagerly represented. Sometimes, though, I cannot help but wonder if representation is inherently progressive, or if the undertones to the sudden intent from large corporations to depict queer folk could be sinister. How does capitalistic demand drive which “type” of queer person is shown in media? Where is the line drawn between fetishization and appreciation? Is there even a “right” way to create and market queer media to a predominantly straight audience?

Joe Halsch, the director of The Jim Toy Center in Ann Arbor, a community for queer folk and allies dedicated to advocacy and community engagement, helps answer these questions during this 2-part segment in which we discuss the history of queer representation and its implications in modern day media, as well as his own thoughts and experiences regarding queerness.

Without further ado, here’s Joe.

Welcome back to This Person I Met! My name is Kayla and I’m the host of this podcast.

Tucked in a quiet corner of Ann Arbor, Michigan, The Safehouse is a refuge for any who may be facing intimate partner violence. At the head of the Safehouse is Christine Watson, who has long been an advocate for the protection and understanding of victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and other forms of intimate partner violence. Despite resources like The Safehouse being readily available, many misunderstandings still plague our knowledge of how to approach victims, a topic that Christine and I dive into as she discusses the careful intersection between gender, race, sexuality, and more when it comes to her work. How do you ensure all feel heard, no matter their story and background? Can you acknowledge all sides of a spectrum while still realizing that one demographic may be disproportionately affected? How do you make room for nuance in a topic as sensitive as intimate partner violence? In this episode, Christine and I discuss how she navigates her own understanding of her work and its intricacies, and more importantly, how we can change the conversation surrounding intimate partner violence to better help those without a voice.

Without further ado, here’s Christine.

Welcome back to This Person I Met! My name is Kayla, and I'm the host of this podcast.

Following Judith, the founder of Center for Eating Disorders in Ann Arbor who starred in the previous segment, it seemed as if new perspectives could be incorporated in order to gain a better understanding of the increasingly prevalent issue at hand: disordered eating.

While many may know textbook knowledge based on internet think pieces and middle school health classes, it is all too often that when we are faced with helping someone struggling with an eating disorder, we do not know what to do. People cannot be read like articles on the internet or vague social media posts. Unfortunately, they cannot be treated and supported simply based on the quotes you see when you google “what to say if my loved one might be struggling with an eating disorder.” Eating disorders are different for everybody. Some may want advice and a shoulder to lean on during worse episodes. Some may just want an ear to listen. For parents of children with eating disorders, the issue of how to spot, help, and alleviate becomes increasingly difficult as they try to grapple with the nuance of the situation and the individuality of their child.

In this segment, a parent will share their perspective on how an eating disorder made its way into their daughter and the aftermath of its destruction.