UNIV ERSE: MDF INTERSECTIONS

MDF.053: Painting, Sobriety, Bunny Farts, Berlin, Home Studio, Gender, Meditation, Spiritual Armour Nika Fontaine (no pronouns) - Villalonga call - 2022 @nikafontaine I first met Nika in a Thursday queer AA meeting in Berlin (since then our individual lives have gone through it supported by our friendship). Nika has a language brain, the gift of gab, and humour (I picked up on th

Marina Reza (she/her) - Berlin - 2022 @reza.marina / www.marinareza.com Marina first came to visit Berlin pre Corona with the intent to move over from NYC (a time in which now feels like a dream). We landed on the same page easily and she has become a big part of many of my recovery constellations (we live a stones throw apart and rarely accidentally run into each other on the str

Hank (they/them) Pt 2 - Berlin - 2022 @butchcut030 / @qequal_official Hank and I agreed that we had so much more to quatsch about that a second episode was a must (and we probably still forgot about plenty!). Being welcomed into Hanks queer / sober / safe barber shop in Kreuzberg for a head shaving ritual was magical (this offering makes for an interesting rhythm with some shorte

Hank (they/them) Pt 1 - Berlin - 2022 @butchcut030 / @qequal_official Hank and I were in a few closer orbits through mutual friends for some years now without officially connecting (always having heard the nicest sentiments all made sense when we eventually met in the rooms). In particular I was seeing how Hank empowers other queer trans folks around me through the ritual of hai

Tony Just (he/him) - Berlin - 2022 @just.tony I first saw Tony in a meeting as we were in a similar weekly rhythm (he was new to recovery and I was new to Berlin). Some years later the queer AA meetings started up which attracted all of us creative misfits (being in a closer orbit and hanging out for dinner afterwards). I eventually had the courage to send Tony a friend request

Bojan (he/him) - Berlin - 2022 @ronny.bitter We first met through tattooing while I was at AKA and some years later are living a few blocks away from each other (tattooers becoming actual friends is often nearly impossible to line up). The folks around me tattooing often give back sage advice that finally clicks (I’m always impressed with people who don’t fear technology). I

Joy Markus (they/them) - Berlin - 2022 @thisisjoyjessica I first met Joy when living so very far apart and both tattooing (they reached out to me about a guest spot and we had a phone call and a tea). The world shut down soon after and our connection turned into a long distance mentorship dynamic (as they have been mentoring others and holding space in Johannesburg for BIPOC fems

Ty Wardwell (they/them) - Berlin - 2022 @tinyasspaintings To this day I still remember how Ty claimed space for themselves easily that I wasn’t yet stepping into (even in Berlin queer meetings). Some months later we rode clear across town in the summer swelter to the lake for a swim (of which is their happy place as is FKK and at the time ice cream). I was starting to ask dear f

Franz Kratochwil (he/him) - Berlin - 2022 @franz_kratochwil My lovely friend Franz came on the show today as the rain let loose in Berlin (we were both wearing our Mother Nature hoodies by no surprise). Acupuncture had been something that I avoided out of fear until my hand gave out from tattooing 4 years ago (Franz came highly recommended by a fellow and has been treating me ev

Sabina van der Linden (she/her) - Berlin - 2022 @bohemienine I landed in Berlin in 2013 and Sabina was someone who stood out in recovery (we co-chaired the Thursday NA meeting which was my first real group commitment). Over the years we have been in orbit in a number of fellowships (we have attempted creating a few hybrid fellowships along the way). Her story always makes me wo