Fierce-Gentle: The Courageous Voice Podcast

At 23 years old, I left England on a journey to see how far I could go without flying. I now live, work, and play on Naam, land of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. This land is colonially known as Melbourne, Australia.In this episode I unpack the poem Hiraeth. It is titled and inspired by the Welsh word "Hiraeth" which means a profound longing and homesickness for a home that no longer exists.It felt like a suitable poem to unpack considering I am now back in the UK for the first time since the COVID outbreak began.In it I look at my connection to my cultural identity, to my land, my bloodlines and my people. I also look at how connecting to those parts of myself have impacted my responsibility and regard for racism, systemic racism, and colonisation. I reflect on being a first generation settler on colonised land and also on my own genetic history (WAF: WhiteAF haha). I touch on my deep connection to the beautiful country and land I was born on and how grief and homesickness play in my heart.Hey babes!If you love this podcast please consider supporting it by joining me on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/FleassyIn this episode I unpack my poem HiraethYou can request a poem of mine for me to do a Behind The Poem episode about. I take requests from my Patrons, join me over on Patreon and just send me a message through there.If you would like a copy of this poem you can find it here: Book - Virago: A Poetic Manifesto Or check out some of my other work here:Book - Sex and GodAlbum CD -  Unhear ThisAlbum Download - BandcampAudio stream - Spotify---------------------------------------------------------This podcast was recorded in Naam, on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.Fierce-gentle was made possible and supported by a Banyule City Council Business Grant.Written, recorded and hosted by Fleassy Malay:https://linktr.ee/fleassymalayReclaim your Voice, Courage, and Power in Fleassy’s online course, RISE - Speaker Training.https://coursecraft.net/courses/z9VdE/Music by Rory McDougall:https://soundcloud.com/myshyteSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/fleassy)

Have you ever been told that you are “too much” or "intimidating"?ORHave you ever looked at another woman or femme person and thought “She’s so…”, “Ugh, I can’t believe she…”, or “I hate when they…”?It’s taught to us from a very early age. We see it in movies, cartoons, magazines, books, even songs; women competing against other women. Women fighting for love interests, jobs, social status, women comparing their motherhood skills, their home decor, their talents and their body shapes. Women comparing themselves against each other, pulling each other down, or putting themselves in the shadow of another.We get taught to slut shame, body shame, success shame, class shame and so much more.A few days before recording this podcast I was having a chat on Instagram with a dear friend of mine, Serra. I admitted to her that I had struggled during our 9 year friendship with competition and comparison. I had found myself swinging from having a mega crush on this babe to comparing myself to her, and even internally shaming her for her juicy, vibrant, personality.We got into a vulnerable chat via private messages and, on her suggestion, decided to pause it and record the conversation for all of you to enjoy.In this episode we look hard at ourselves, at our own habits and how we not only treat other women but how other women treat us. We pull apart the toxic ways we have been taught to interact by society, but also delve into the vulnerability of grappling with all that shame ourselves. As two women who have both been told we are “too much” and “Intimidating” we also reflect on how to bridge that gap and find our place with other strong women in our life.If you love this podcast please consider supporting it by joining me on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/FleassyThis show features an interview with Serra Stone."Serra is an everchanging practise of pulsing, writhing lifeforms, held together by lichen and dawn. Currently taking form as a queer, neuro-diverse, sex worker, eco-sensual, writer, wildlife carer and artist; Serra considers her most important work is done in ritual with animals who have been killed. Her written and visual musings are the awkward, painful, decomposing truths of our world with a touch of satirical armour to soften the treacherous path. She is a (proper) bird nerd, earl grey loving, many book at a time reading mother of one caramel eyed Pitbull currently breathing with Dja Dja Wurrung Country in Central Victoria, Australia."https://www.instagram.com/serra.stone/https://www.facebook.com/sarah.hancock.756/https://medium.com/@connect_92174---------------------------------------------------------This podcast was recorded in Naam, on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.Fierce-gentle was made possible and supported by a Banyule City Council Business Grant.Written, recorded and hosted by Fleassy Malay:https://linktr.ee/fleassymalayReclaim your Voice, Courage, and Power in Fleassy’s online course, RISE - Speaker Training.https://coursecraft.net/courses/z9VdE/Music by Rory McDougall:https://soundcloud.com/myshyteSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/fleassy)

Hey babes! We hit 1000 DOWNLOADS!! Amazing!This week I asked my awesome Facebook Followers "What does it mean to live with integrity?". The responses were varied and came in thick and fast.Instead of unpacking a poem, like I would usually do on a non-interview week, I have actually decided to explore the concept of Integrity. I share my own experience of what it means for me to have integrity in life and intimate relationships. I also share how I identify integrity in other people, and how I gauge my own capacity to trust, and invest, in that relationship.This is far from a scientific unpacking on the topic, however, it is true to me at the time of recording. I'd love to hear what this episode leaves you thinking and how you sit with Integrity as a concept.If you love this podcast please consider supporting it by joining me on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/Fleassy---------------------------------------------------------This podcast was recorded in Naam, the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.Fierce-Gentle was made possible and supported by a Banyule City Council Business Grant.Written, recorded and hosted by Fleassy Malay:https://linktr.ee/fleassymalayReclaim your Voice, Courage, and Power in Fleassy’s online course, RISE - Speaker Training.https://coursecraft.net/courses/z9VdE/Music by Rory McDougall:https://soundcloud.com/myshyteSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/fleassy)

Hey babes!If you love this podcast please consider supporting it by joining me on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/Fleassy4 years ago this week, a poem was written that ripped its way through me. Then, in March 2018, when it was released, it sky rocketed, went viral, and lit fires in the hearts of women all over the world. In this weeks episode I unpack my poem Witches. This is a big one. It feels scary to do because I know it's a poem that holds SO MUCH WEIGHT for so many people. I hope this episode does service to the impact this poem has had on you.I also trialed something this week, and recorded it with Patrons watching live via Zoom. You can access a video recording of that, and the subsequent QnA session I did afterwards, by becoming one of my Patrons.You can also request a poem of mine for me to do a Behind The Poem episode about. I take requests from my Patrons, just send me a message through that platform.My online program RISE Speaker Training starts its next live round on Oct 20th.  Click here for more details.If you would like a copy of this poem you can find it here: Book - Virago: A Poetic Manifesto On my album, Unhear This:Album CD -  Unhear ThisAlbum Download - BandcampAudio stream - SpotifyYou can also see the video of it by Uplift Connect which went viral in 2018 here.---------------------------------------------------------This podcast was recorded in Naam, on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.Fierce-gentle was made possible and supported by a Banyule City Council Business Grant.Written, recorded and hosted by Fleassy Malay:https://linktr.ee/fleassymalayReclaim your Voice, Courage, and Power in Fleassy’s online course, RISE - Speaker Training.https://coursecraft.net/courses/z9VdE/Music by Rory McDougall:https://soundcloud.com/myshyteSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/fleassy)

In this episode musician and absolute babe, Kerryn Fields, and I have a chat. We look at love, anger, and the impact of debilitating illness. Her relationship to vulnerability when It was something that was enforced upon her by the challenges that life threw her way. And because she's a huge walking Care Bear, we discuss the power of loving ourselves through it all.We also talk about life as a musician in the age of digital music, and what it is to take up space on a stage with commanding confidence, and profound connection and love.Kerryn Fields links:Insta: https://www.instagram.com/kerrynfieldsLinktree with other relevant links: https://linktr.ee/kerrynfields---------------------------------------------------------This podcast was recorded in Naam, on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.Fierce-gentle was made possible and supported by a Banyule City Council Business Grant.Written, recorded and hosted by Fleassy Malay:https://linktr.ee/fleassymalayReclaim your Voice, Courage, and Power in Fleassy’s online course, RISE - Speaker Training.https://coursecraft.net/courses/z9VdE/Music and editing by Rory McDougall:https://soundcloud.com/myshyteKerryn Fields Bio:Fuelled by humility, integrity and a raw clarity of vision, Kerryn Fields paints enduring musical portraits that detail the colour and feeling of everything that makes us human.Drawing comparisons with the likes of timeless creators, Cat Stevens, Townes Van Zandt, Joan Baez, Neil Young, and more, Fields’ trademark warmth of character - evident in both life and music - fuels a creative offering that’s equal parts captivating, refined and heartrendingly insightful.It’s for good reason too, because life is something this artist has lived. Fields grew up in Te Kūiti, NZ, a farming community in which both her family and others’ work hard to make ends meet. With Mum on guitar and Dad fuelling an obsession with radio, cassettes and vinyl LPs by all of music’s greats, there was a life lesson in every song of Fields’ childhood.With one hand on guitar and the other firmly upon heart, music moved Fields through a time when chronic illness, family separations and the weight of life changes presented this artist with her biggest challenges yet. It would be her relocation to Melbourne during which Fields would settle into her most significant relationship to date: that with her newfound network of fellow career singers, songwriters and performers. Life as she’d known it would change forever.Newstead Live Music Festival’s Troubadour Artist of the Year (2019), winner of the MLT Songwriting Award (NZ Country Music Awards 2019) and New Zealand’s Best New Broadcaster (at age 19), Kerryn Fields has released a range of celebrated records including debut LP, Rascal (2015) and award-winning, critically acclaimed single, Mamma (2019).Sure, her music speaks volumes. But it’s the captivating warmth and courage of this artist that really leaves the audience shining from the inside-out. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/fleassy)

This show features an interview with the talented Fleur Watkins, who appeared in my life via season 3 of Lego Masters Australia.This episode was a beautiful conversation we had unpacking the impact of the “Compete and Compare” mindset that so many women are brought up with. We also look at the importance of representation in mainstream media, and Fleur shares her experience battling stereotypes and pushing for better representation of women on TV, whilst also existing in the high-stress environment of high-stakes decision making with $100,000 on the line. Fleur is such an incredible and real soul, and I feel honoured to have been able to have this conversation with her.Follow Fleur on Instagram here:https://www.instagram.com/watkinsfleur/Check out her business where she will be running “Bricks n Sips” events.If you love this podcast please consider supporting it by joining me on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/Fleassy---------------------------------------------------------This podcast was recorded in Naam, on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.Fierce-gentle was made possible and supported by a Banyule City Council Business Grant.Written, recorded and hosted by Fleassy Malay:https://linktr.ee/fleassymalayReclaim your Voice, Courage, and Power in Fleassy’s online course, RISE - Speaker Training.https://coursecraft.net/courses/z9VdE/Music and editing by Rory McDougall:https://soundcloud.com/myshyteFleur Watkins BiographyFleur is 44 years old and originally hails from Auckland, New Zealand but now calls Melbourne, Australia home.Fleur has a Diploma in Performing Arts and headed to London in 1996 to pursue a career in musical theatre.  A year into her stay overseas Fleur’s twin brother died in a car accident and her life completely changed direction.  She fell into a career in the Event Management industry that ended up holding her attention for nearly 20 years.  Fleur loved her career which saw her teach events software as far afield as Singapore and San Francisco and manage tours in New Zealand for artists  such as the late great Marcel Marceau and John Mayer.In 2019 Fleur watched Lego Masters Season 1 and immediately reconnected with a childhood love of the LEGO bricks.  As a mother it is easy to lose yourself in your children and forget what makes you tick creatively.  For Fleur creating with LEGO became a journey of self-discovery where she uncovered the artistic person that had largely been dormant for many years.  In 2020 fate would see a friend recommend her to producers for Lego Masters Australia Season 3 and after a long process she started filming in October 2020.Fleur is currently preparing to launch a new business “Bricks & Sips” where adults are encouraged to participate in LEGO workshops building designs created by her while enjoying a few glasses of wine and some good banter.  Fleur hopes that this could expand into the Hen’s night market because she can see great potential in using the Indiana Jones minifigure whip in a "Fifty Shades of Gray” style vignette. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/fleassy)

This very special show features an interview with the creators of Fearless Movement Collective, Bowie Stover and Zay Canters. These two beings are not only personal friends of mine but are also special to me in a very unique way. In this episode we unpack their experiences running a business aimed at the trans and gender diverse community, we look at their exploration of identity and how they truly discovered who their target market actually is, and the mistakes they made in the process.We also go to some deeply intimate and vulnerable places as we open up and share publicly about our journey in a three-way relationship (thrupple) and their experiences with queer, poly dating in straight, monogamous world. It is a very tender and revealing episode which took a lot of courage and honesty from all of us. We explore what it is to discover our own demons and bad habits, work through them, crafting deeper and more honest relationships. I feel deeply grateful that they were willing to unpack this with me.I hope you gain a lot from this episode, I know I did. Check out Bowie and Zay's incredible work with The Fearless Movement Collectivehttps://fearlessmovementco.com/They will be rebranding as "Non-Gendered Fitness" towards the end of 2021.Instagram Pages:Bowie: https://www.instagram.com/the.no.t.enbieZay: https://www.instagram.com/zaycantersNon Gendered Fitness: https://www.instagram.com/non_gendered_fitnessThe Fearless Movement Collective: https://www.facebook.com/fearlessmovementcoIf you love this podcast please consider supporting it by joining me on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/Fleassy---------------------------------------------------------This podcast was recorded in Naam, on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.Fierce-gentle was made possible and supported by a Banyule City Council Business Grant.Written, recorded and hosted by Fleassy Malay:https://linktr.ee/fleassymalayReclaim your Voice, Courage, and Power in Fleassy’s online course, RISE - Speaker Training.https://coursecraft.net/courses/z9VdE/Music and editing by Rory McDougall:https://soundcloud.com/myshyteSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/fleassy)

Hey babes!If you love this podcast please consider supporting it by joining me on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/FleassyIn this episode I unpack my poem Tall Poppy. It was requested by my Patron...and parent... Pam Riley. Thanks for all your support mum.You can request a poem of mine for me to do a Behind The Poem episode about. I take requests from my Patrons, join me over on Patreon and just send me a message through there.If you would like a copy of this poem you can find it here: (DELETE AS RELEVANT)Book - Virago: A Poetic Manifesto Or on my album, Unhear This:Album CD -  Unhear ThisAlbum Download - BandcampAudio stream - Spotify---------------------------------------------------------This podcast was recorded in Naam, on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.Fierce-gentle was made possible and supported by a Banyule City Council Business Grant.Written, recorded and hosted by Fleassy Malay:https://linktr.ee/fleassymalayReclaim your Voice, Courage, and Power in Fleassy’s online course, RISE - Speaker Training.https://coursecraft.net/courses/z9VdE/Music by Rory McDougall:https://soundcloud.com/myshyteSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/fleassy)

Hey babes!If you love this podcast please consider supporting it by joining me on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/FleassyThis episode features an interview with the incredible Farah Beaini, a spoken word poet and a master (in my eyes) of inciting open and curious conversations.I believe we could all benefit from having better conversations.In this episode we explore what it means to write our own stories for others to hear, and what it means to “leave our shoes at the door” when we are asked to write other people’s stories. We touch on grief and the power of asking questions. Farah explores her identity as a person living with disability, alongside her identity as a woman from a Muslim background, and the both challenging and beautiful elements of that intersection.Farah is a beautiful and living example of fierce-gentle communication and courageous living.Farah Beaini is a spoken word poet and writer, interested in exploring stories of identity and belonging in an age of constant movement. Farah is the founder and lead facilitator of Moving Conversations, a much needed home for courageous community conversations on difficult issues affecting our health and wellbeing. Past conversations are available via the Moving Conversations Podcast, with guest appearances from poets, singers and mental health experts. We pay our respects to the Wurundjeri people, whose lands we gathered on to record these conversations.Moving Conversations facebook grouphttps://www.facebook.com/movingconversations---------------------------------------------------------This podcast was recorded in Naam, on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.Fierce-gentle was made possible and supported by a Banyule City Council Business Grant.Written, recorded and hosted by Fleassy Malay:https://linktr.ee/fleassymalayReclaim your Voice, Courage, and Power in Fleassy’s online course, RISE - Speaker Training.https://coursecraft.net/courses/z9VdE/Music and editing by Rory McDougall:https://soundcloud.com/myshyteSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/fleassy)

Hey babes!If you love this podcast please consider supporting it by joining me on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/FleassyIn this episode I unpack my poem Northern Lights. It's sensual, revealing, and when I wrote it was drenched in deep emotions. It was requested by my Patron, Pete Jordan. Thanks Pete.If you want to request a poem, I take requests from all my Patrons, so jump over and join me on Patreon.If you would like a copy of this poem you can find it here: Book - Sex and GodYou can also find it on my album:Album CD -  Unhear ThisAudio stream - SpotifyAlbum Download - Bandcamp---------------------------------------------------------This podcast was recorded in Naam, on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.Fierce-gentle was made possible and supported by a Banyule City Council Business Grant and my awesome Patreon community.Written, recorded and hosted by Fleassy Malay:https://linktr.ee/fleassymalayReclaim your Voice, Courage, and Power in Fleassy’s online course, RISE - Speaker Training.https://coursecraft.net/courses/z9VdE/Music by Rory McDougall:https://soundcloud.com/myshyteSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/fleassy)