Allyship is a Verb

Charlie Ocean, MSW (they/them)

People want to do better, but they don’t always know how. Allyship is a Verb is a 4x award-nominated (and now award-winning!) podcast featuring conversations with LGBTQ+ community members of various lived experiences and backgrounds who share their stories and an allyship tip. The host is a silly, warm human who offers self-reflection questions and voiceovers to help deepen the learning for listeners. The host is Charlie Ocean, MSW (they/them), who has a background in LGBTQ+ education, community organizing, and social work. read less
EducationEducation

Episodes

The Magic of LGBTQ+ Summer Camps feat. Rebecca Kling (Replay)
Apr 23 2024
The Magic of LGBTQ+ Summer Camps feat. Rebecca Kling (Replay)
Please note: This is another replay due to a super busy past few weeks. 💜 This episode is from Season 2, so you'll hear my previous name. All replay slots will be extended with original episodes, I promise! 😊This week, Rebecca Kling (she/her) discusses creating inclusive summer camps for LGBTQ+ youth where they can be themselves without making everything about being from the LGBTQ+ community. In this episode, you will learn 1. What conversations are coming up at summer camps 2. How B'Mitzvahs/B'nai Mitzvahs may differ from Bar and Bat Mitzvahs 3. When we might engage in understanding and empathic conversations and when it's time to disrupt and agitate for change.🎙️ Connect with Rebecca to learn more about + support her work:MastodonLinkedInWebsiteCo-Founder of Better World Collaborative💻 Sources and resources from this episode:TransTorahCelebrating the Age of Mitzvah: A Guide for all Genders | KeshetHost Charlie Ocean, MSW (they/them), has a background in LGBTQ+ training, community organizing, and technology. Guest episodes feature at least one allyship tip, including tailored questions based on the guests' unique intersecting identities. You can follow Charlie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack. *You will hear Charlie's former name in this episode and previous ones.*
Listen to minorities and thank them feat. Ra Ra Rollins (Replay)
Mar 12 2024
Listen to minorities and thank them feat. Ra Ra Rollins (Replay)
Please note: This is another replay to help with my mental health break. A new episode is coming on Tuesday, March 26th. Thanks for your continued patience and understanding. 💜 This episode is from Season 2, so you'll hear my previous name. Content warning for mentions of George Floyd's murder and generally sensitive topics without details. This episode is sponsored by a private donor. Thank you!!! Listen to minorities and thank them. In this week’s episode, Ra Ra Rollins (he/him) shares why he claims “queer” and “gay” and the difference in meaning for him between the two terms. He ponders if he’s Black first or gay, queer first, especially since not all spaces see him as a whole person with various, complex identities. Learn about how his work can be triggering as a Black therapist and what it means for him to hold space for clients at some of his same intersections. We also discuss how he pushed back in his grad school program because he learned from white professors who talked about white theorists and had white supervisors while seeing white clients. Despite that, he did gain two incredible mentors and friends for life. Ra Ra reclaims his energy by practicing boundaries, which did not come naturally to him, including by shutting down nearly all of his social media. There's also some discussion around rules and how he liberates himself from rules that don’t work or honor him. Resources, references, and full transcripts are available at ⁠www.allyshipisaverb.com/episode/ra-ra-rollins⁠ Host Charlie Ocean, MSW (they/them), has a background in LGBTQ+ training, community organizing, and technology. Guest episodes feature an allyship tip, including tailored questions based on the guests' unique intersecting identities. You can follow Charlie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠.
Do you check in on your relationships? feat. Trystan Reese (Replay)
Feb 27 2024
Do you check in on your relationships? feat. Trystan Reese (Replay)
Check out the ⁠wearable merch⁠! You can also help me close the gap on my ⁠$757 goal⁠. I'm 76% of the way there at the time of writing this! Please note: I'm bringing back a fan-favorite episode from season one, especially for those of you who are new to the podcast! Just a heads up, you will hear my previous name. Why am I doing this? I'm burnt out. I need more support to keep this podcast going strong into season four. Anything you can do helps - whether it's snagging some merch, becoming a monthly donor, sponsoring an episode, or even sharing episodes. I'm incredibly grateful for those who've been supporting me, and the reality is each episode takes me over 20 hours to put together. It's overwhelming and has become unsustainable, especially in the current anti-LGBTQ+ political climate of both the US and globally. Your support means the world to me and helps so many feel seen, heard, and validated through the podcast. Plus, it's a crucial part of some people's LGBTQ+ allyship journeys. Thank you all so much for being a part of this community 🌈 New episodes will be coming, though I may do one more replay for my mental health 💜 I appreciate your patience and understanding. In this week’s episode, Trystan Reese (he/him) shares about his days of being a drag king and how he's been performing as a man since he was a kid. Learn about some of the practices he's adopted to check in with his colleagues so that they're in a continuous feedback loop, including addressing power dynamics and microaggressions. We also discuss a bit of what it's like to be trainers and consultants and the work that goes into it, including figuring out our boundaries and doing the work to know how to facilitate conversations. Trystan talks about how moved he was by ALOK's talk on the podcast Man Enough and how well they were able to articulate thoughts that have been circling in his own mind.  Resources, references, and full transcripts are available at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allyshipisaverb.com/episodes/trystan-reese Host Charlie Ocean, MSW (they/them), has a background in LGBTQ+ training, community organizing, and technology. Guest episodes feature an allyship tip, including tailored questions based on the guests' unique intersecting identities. You can follow Charlie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack.
Candace Rucker on being angry and eloquent
Feb 13 2024
Candace Rucker on being angry and eloquent
Check out the wearable merch!This week, Candace Rucker (she/her) challenges the thought that we are only one type of ally, advocate, or activist— instead, we can be fluid by going in and out of feelings and actions. You will learn: 1. How it feels to be marginalized and misunderstood due to mixed race and queer identity 2. Why she historically got really, really angry when thinking about being Black in America 3. Why she's such a fan of intersectionality and who she'd love to meet🎙️ Connect with Candace:LinkedIn💻 Sources and resources:The intersectionality wars | Vox.com piece about how and why Kimberlé Crenshaw coined intersectionalityStan Lee: A Life (Centennial) - Bob Batchelor | Bookshop.orgJournal of a Black Queer Nurse - Britney Daniels | Bookshop.orgBlack Friend: Essays - Ziwe | Bookshop.orgBlack AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America - Michael Harriot | Bookshop.org(Disclaimer: Gender Sexuality Info, LLC may receive a small commission from you purchasing from the Bookshop.org links, which helps to provide free educational services like this podcast)Host Charlie Ocean, MSW (they/them), has a background in LGBTQ+ training, community organizing, and technology. Guest episodes feature at least one allyship tip, including tailored questions based on the guests' unique intersecting identities. You can follow Charlie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack.
Exploring LGBTQ+ history feat. Andrew Lear
Jan 30 2024
Exploring LGBTQ+ history feat. Andrew Lear
⁠⁠⁠📺 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the recording⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for PFLAG Los Angeles Presents: Trans and Nonbinary Joy ✨☎️ ⁠Call⁠ the new ⁠QTP Loveline⁠ to get various LGBTQ+ affirmations and encouragementThis week, Andrew Lear (he/him) discusses what goes into curating gay art history tours and the homophobia he's seen in academia. In this episode, you will learn 1. What intimate and sexual differences he’s seen for teenage boys and men across different cultures 2. How he’s seen gay art evolve over time 3. Which LGBTQ+ historical figures he’d want to have a dinner party with, and why🎙️ Connect with Andrew:FacebookOscar Wilde Tours💻 Sources and resources:Andrew Lear | WikipediaRare Photos of the Stonewall Riots On Display in New Exhibit | NY1Images From the Stonewall Uprising’s Final Night | NY Times7 LGBTQ Uprisings Before Stonewall | History.comStonewall at 40: The Voice Articles That Sparked a Final Night of Rioting | Village VoiceGay Liberation Front GLF | WikipediaGay Activists Alliance GAA | WikipediaFrank Kameny | WikipediaCraig Rodwell | WikipediaSylvia Rivera, “Y’all Better Quiet Down” Original Authorized Video, 1973 Gay Pride Rally NYC *loud volume warning* | YouTubeCamp Pride | Campus PrideShopQueer.co | Online, also has The Rainbow Book BusThe Lavender Rhino | Online, no website yet. Funded via KickstarterList of LGBT Bookstores | Wikipedia50 Queer Bookstores to Visit this Pride Month  | Book RiotEverywhere Is Queer | You can also see thousands of LGBTQ+ owned shops hereMan in crisis calls gay bookstore, and manager and patrons answer | NBC NewsHost Charlie Ocean, MSW (they/them), has a background in LGBTQ+ training, community organizing, and technology. Guest episodes feature at least one allyship tip, including tailored questions based on the guests' unique intersecting identities. You can follow Charlie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack.
WAIT, why am I talking? feat. Mark S. King
Oct 10 2023
WAIT, why am I talking? feat. Mark S. King
This week, Mark S. King (he/him) shares how the landscape of HIV/AIDS has changed over the years since the AIDS crisis of the 80s and what it's been like for him, having lived with HIV for four decades. In this episode, you will learn 1. Why is it essential to fight against HIV criminalization, especially considering the injustices and stigma it perpetuates, particularly when it's used vindictively in personal disputes and can lead to unjust labeling as sexual predators 2. How not having access to basic services like transportation can impact our health and health outcomes 3. How he initially felt about folks making comparisons between the AIDS crisis and COVID-19 and what he thinks now🎙️ Connect with Mark S. King:Website | Where you can find his blog, My Fabulous DiseaseMy Fabulous Disease | Mark’s new book (borrowed from the blog’s title)The Day After He was Murdered, I Got a Card from Josh Kruger | Post from Mark’s blogFacebookX💻 Sources and resources:TheBody | HIV/AIDS ResourcesThe Reunion Project | National alliance of long-term survivors of HIVPOZ magazineHIV/AIDS awareness days | HIV.govUSCHA | United States Conference on AIDSHost Charlie Ocean, MSW (they/them), has a background in LGBTQ+ training, community organizing, and technology. Guest episodes feature at least one allyship tip, including tailored questions given their unique intersecting identities. You can follow Charlie on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Substack.
Living authentically and forging family harmony feat. Jack Lam
Aug 15 2023
Living authentically and forging family harmony feat. Jack Lam
This week, Jack Lam (they/them) discusses how being a Malaysian Chinese immigrant has impacted them, including struggling to release shame and fear so they could name and embrace their genderqueer identity after coming to the United States. In this episode, you will learn 1. How their gender expression becomes a powerful tool for visibility 2. When allyship begins to become performative and how to avoid it 3. Why we need to normalize talking about mental health and getting support🎙️ Connect with Jack:Instagram (select posts included below)To be an immigrantWhen you’re part of the communityQuestions to a genderqueer personFor when you want it all to end💻 Sources and resources:Coming Out: Living Authentically as LGBTQ Asian and Pacific Islander Americans | The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance and HRC Foundation📣 Announcements:Love is in the air! 😍 Or is it? Charlie's personals ad for their friend Kaitlyn may have scared you away 😅 but if it hasn’t, go check out Kaitlyn on InstagramWant to bring Allyship is a Verb to your workplace or group? Get a shoutout? Check out our Indiegogo campaign, including lots of other great perks! Please consider donating $15 in honor of Charlie's milestone of 15 years on testosterone (August 12th).New merch drop 👀 with another line coming soon 👕Host Charlie Ocean, MSW (they/them), has a background in LGBTQ+ training, community organizing, and technology. Guest episodes feature at least one allyship tip, including tailored questions based on the guests' unique intersecting identities. You can follow Charlie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack. *You will hear Charlie's former name in this episode and previous ones.*