Annie Donya
This one's got a new podcast, a barking dog, some anhedonia, and a couple lovely Instax pix
The Virtual Memories Show News
A 2x/week email about a podcast about books & life
Podcastery
This week, I got back to recording with guests and posted Episode 647 of my Virtual Memories Show. feat. Oliver Radclyffe’s journey into trans-selfhood via his phenomenal debut memoir, FRIGHTEN THE HORSES (Roxane Gay Books/Grove Atlantic). We talk about the importance of trans visibility, how his understanding of masculinity and being male have changed, bridging the gap between his trans narrator and this cis-het reader, and how he faced down the risks and sacrifices in his life as he transitioned, despite the uncertainty of what lay ahead. We get into how he found the perfect voice for his memoir, the importance of The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy on his writing process, his life-defining moment of seeing Justin Vivian Bond, why being raised in privilege explained why he knew so little about the queer world, the surprisingly wonderful support his (conservative Christian) parents gave him throughout his journey, and why the book focuses on his pre-transition life. We also discuss whether he looks at photos of his pre-transition self, how testosterone has affected his life, how gender can shift with age, the joy of publishing his first book, whether he’s ready to be an empty-nester, why he identifies as a gender-irrelevant transsexual, and a lot more. Give it a listen. And go read FRIGHTEN THE HORSES (and his essay collection, Adult Human Male)!
Two weeks ago I posted Episode 646. There was no conversation, unless you count me talking to myself as I shared some thoughts and memories about my father, who died on July 10, along with the eulogy I gave at his funeral. I also told the story of the time he handed me a shotgun before a business deal and told me to wait in a side room “in case anything happens. . . .” Give it a listen.
Recent episodes: Rachel Cockerell • Paul Karasik • Kate Maruyama • David Denby • Peter Stothard • Cecile Wajsbrot • Keiler Roberts
Annie Donya
I was hoping to write something semi-profound, but I’m pretty burned out today. Birdy woke us at midnight, barking at phantoms, and I never really got back to sleep. As (pre-emptive) revenge, we’re having her groomed today:
I had my annual physical on Monday, and my doctor noticed my general malaise. Apprised of dad’s death and my various responses to it, he told me about ‘delayed grief’ and warned me that I may experience periods of anhedonia. I told him the horse had left the barn on that one years ago, and that I’ve learned how to mitigate it.
Which isn’t meant to worry you. I just lose the thread to joy & wonder sometimes, but it always shows up in unexpected places.
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Instaxery
Took one at Dad’s grave last week, and one at Oliver’s place before our podcast.
Artistry
Haven’t done any drawing; sorry. You should go to the Flickr album of most of the art I’ve made & find something you like.
Postcardery
Let me know if you want to be on my postcard-a-day list. (Financial supporters of the podcast get a hand-drawn or painted postcard as a thank-you.)
Until Next Time
Thanks for reading this far. I’ll be back on Sunday with links, books, & workout-/meditation-craziness, and on Wednesday with a new episode (I hope), and maybe some art and an Instax.
Amanita is the name / The flowers cover everything,