Voices Unheard was originally produced by Unicorns.LIVE in partnership with Kelowna Pride Society back in 2020. The intent of this series is to bring awareness to underrepresented members of society, which includes people of various racial backgrounds, sexuality, gender identity/expression, age, or ability. Host Jessica Samuels will engage a different guest each episode in a candid conversation about the challenges they have faced or continue to struggle with, elevating their voice and helping them to tell their stories.
Content Rating: Parental guidance is suggested for the designated age range (7-13 yrs); some material may not be suitable for all children due to coarse language.
Host: Jessica Samuels
Guest: Wilbur Turner
Season 1 - Episode: 10
For the final episode in this season of Voices Unheard, we celebrate Kelowna Pride Week by delving into the city’s LGBT2Q+ history, and learning the story of a gay man who has been instrumental in fostering the Pride movement in this British Columbia community. Wilbur Turner (he/him) grew up during the 60s and 70s in rural Alberta “in a time when gay wasn't a word you heard.” His upbringing in a conservative Christian cult made it impossible for him to recognize his sexuality, and was eventually ostracized by some of his own family and the church when he finally came out after 18 years of marriage to a woman. His coming out experience led him to volunteer work in the LGBT2Q+ community; after moving to Kelowna in 2011, he became heavily involved with Kelowna Pride. Wilbur was a key part of taking a small Pride March with a few dozen in attendance, to the festival with thousands in attendance in 2019.
25 Jul 2024
Voices Unheard S1E9 - Nicolette Rodriguez
Content Rating: Parental guidance is suggested for the designated age range (7-13 yrs); some material may not be suitable for all children due to coarse language.
Host: Jessica Samuels
Guest: Nicolette Rodriguez
Season 1 - Episode: 09
Nicolette Rodriguez (she/her) is our next guest on Voices Unheard. She is a 26 year old trans woman of colour who began transitioning one year ago. Nicolette was born in Edmonton, Alberta but grew up in and currently resides in Penticton, British Columbia; her family emigrated to Canada from El Salvador prior to her birth. She is Vice-President at the South Okanagan-Similkameen Pride Society, and currently works at the Penticton YMCA and is studying business. Host Jessica Samuels will chat with Nicolette about her life and experiences as a trans person and how being a woman of colour with immigrant family members continues to shape her world.
18 Jul 2024
Voices Unheard S1E8 - Robert Verigin
Content Rating: Parental guidance is suggested for the designated age range (7-13 yrs); some material may not be suitable for all children due to coarse language.
Host: Jessica Samuels
Guest: Robert Verigin
Season 1 - Episode: 08
Robert Verigin (he/she/they) sometimes uses pronouns, and sometimes doesn’t, because he’s usually just referred to as “that old queen”. On this episode of Voices Unheard, Jessica Samuels is joined by Robert, who is now 68 years young and is widely known by his drag persona, Sophona Dick. Growing up queer in a small BC community in the 60s and 70s, he was outed by his father in 1968, spurring a move to the “big cities” of Vancouver and Seattle where he finally felt free to be himself. The conversation between Jessica and Robert will span decades full of fascinating and at times heartbreaking tales, including how the HIV/AIDS epidemic stole so many lives from this earth. The stories he will share are sure to provide inspiration and hope; Robert strongly believes that no matter your age, sexual identity, where you live, or what your struggles are...it really does get better.
11 Jul 2024
Voices Unheard S1E7 - Alyssa Sundstrom
Content Rating: Parental guidance is suggested for the designated age range (7-13 yrs); some material may not be suitable for all children due to coarse language.
Host: Jessica Samuels
Guest: Alyssa Sundstrom
Season 1 - Episode: 07
On this episode of Voices Unheard, Jessica Samuels is joined by Alyssa Sundstrom (she/her/hers). Alyssa is a 16-yr old Okanagan Indigenous female who was diagnosed with a very rare but serious illness called Behcet's Disease when she was 18 months old. Behcet's Disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes blood vessel inflammation throughout the body; the disease can lead to numerous symptoms including mouth sores, eye inflammation, skin rashes and lesions, along with other ailments. Her illness also caused painful Juvenile Arthritis in 4 sets of her joints. Alyssa’s wish is to discuss how she’s experienced a very different world than most others while overcoming many challenges, and hopes to bring awareness to what Behcet's Disease is and the battles people of all ages fight.
4 Jul 2024
Voices Unheard S1E6 - Taysha Jarrett
Content Rating: Parental guidance is suggested for the designated age range (7-13 yrs); some material may not be suitable for all children due to coarse language.
Host: Jessica Samuels
Guest: Taysha Jarrett
Season 1 - Episode: 06
Taysha Jarrett (she/he/they) joins host Jessica Samuels for this episode of Voices Unheard. Taysha is autistic, bigender, and queer; growing up they were bullied and beat up and, according to Taysha, at school the “teachers didn’t know what to do with me.” Once their Mom stepped in and demanded certain accommodations, Taysha was able to take a moment to study how the rest of the world interacted with one another, learn from them, and began to emulate others’ interpersonal skills. Taysha and Jessica will discuss these experiences, the tedious process of learning how to blend in, and how at the age of 53, Taysha feels they do a “pretty good job of passing.”
27 Jun 2024
Voices Unheard S1E5 - James Sieben
Content Rating: Parental guidance is suggested for the designated age range (7-13 yrs); some material may not be suitable for all children due to coarse language.
Host: Jessica Samuels
Guest: James Sieben
Season 1 - Episode: 05
James Sieben (he/him/his) is a trans gay man. On this episode of Voices Unheard, James will talk with Jessica about how he has experienced misogyny first-hand before coming out, and how he actually now benefits from misogyny because he “passes for male”. He’ll also discuss how he feels the recent rhetoric about trans people expressed by J.K. Rowling is harmful; the issue of anti-transness in sports; and why all cis LGBT2Q+ people should care about and fight for trans rights.
25 Jun 2024
Voices Unheard S1E4 - Toni Boot
Content Rating: Parental guidance is suggested for the designated age range (7-13 yrs); some material may not be suitable for all children due to coarse language.
Host: Jessica Samuels
Guest: Toni Boot
Season 1 - Episode: 04
Toni Boot (she/her/hers), mayor of Summerland, BC since being elected in 2018, joined Jessica Samuels for Episode 4. Originally from Summerland, Mayor Boot has quite the professional resume: she taught at Okanagan College for several years, co-owned Kettle Valley Dried Fruit Company, founded and owned Grasslands Nursery, holds a B.A. in Professional Communication, and entered local government in 2014 when she was elected to Summerland Council. During this 4-year period, she also sat as a director on the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen (RDOS) board. The focus of this conversation will centre on being a woman of colour in government during such a politically-divisive and racially-charged time in modern history.
25 Jun 2024
Voices Unheard S1E3 - Alaina Young
Content Rating: Parental guidance is suggested for the designated age range (7-13 yrs); some material may not be suitable for all children due to coarse language.
Host: Jessica Samuels
Guest: Alaina Young
Season 1 - Episode: 03
Alaina Young (she/her/hers) is our guest for Episode 3. In her own words: “Plus-size, full-figured, curvaceous...I am a fat woman.” While consistently trying to improve her health by way of exercise and healthy eating, Alaina continues to struggle with her weight and the toll it takes on her mental health. Jessica Samuels discusses with Alaina the impact of modern society’s perceptions of her body type and others of her size, and how larger people are viewed in a world of Insta-models. The true take-away of this episode is a message of hope and body acceptance, and how someone’s size doesn’t make them less human -- no matter what that size is.
25 Jun 2024
Voices Unheard S1E2 - Biawanna (Ash Weis)
Content Rating: Parental guidance is suggested for the designated age range (7-13 yrs); some material may not be suitable for all children due to coarse language.
Host: Jessica Samuels
Guest: Ashley Weis
Season 1 - Episode: 02
Ashley Weis (she/they/them), who performs as Biawanna, joins Jessica Samuels for Episode 2. Ash/Biawanna identifies as queer/non-binary and is a proud WOC (Woman of Colour) Indigeneous Fijian/Soloman. They are a dynamic singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer who’s worked on multiple projects in different genres since they found their start at the age of seven. Their blend of indie-pop, RNB & dance-pop creates an energy that’s equal parts smart, sexy, and fierce. They channel a certain strength through their namesake, Biawanna, matriarch of the Solomon Islands, who gave birth to a long line of chiefs that they are a descendent of. Biawanna is currently getting ready to release their debut EP, ‘Care’, which should be expected soon. They also appear on Unicorns.LIVE’s QUSIC as musical guest on Wednesday, July 22, 2020.
25 Jun 2024
Voices Unheard S1E1 - Dustin Dufault
Content Rating: Parental guidance is suggested for the designated age range (7-13 yrs); some material may not be suitable for all children due to coarse language.
Host: Jessica Samuels
Guest: Dustin Dufault
Season 1 - Episode: 01
Kelowna's Dustin Dufault joins Jessica Samuels for the first episode. Dustin originally hails from the Kaska First Nation in northern British Columbia and southeastern Yukon but has lived in Kelowna for over 10 years now. Dustin “shares his experience of being an indigenous, two-spirit drag artist and finding his way in the world.
28 Apr 2024
Voices Unheard Promo Clip
Voices Unheard was originally produced by Unicorns.LIVE in partnership with Kelowna Pride Society back in 2020. The intent of this series is to bring awareness to underrepresented members of society, which includes people of various racial backgrounds, sexuality, gender identity/expression, age, or ability. Host Jessica Samuels will engage a different guest each week in a candid conversation about the challenges they have faced or continue to struggle with, elevating their voice and helping them to tell their stories.
Stay tuned as a new season is in the works for Voices Unheard in late 2024.
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