Sagittarian Matters

We are over the moon to welcome friend-to-the-show MORGAN back for UNSOLICITED VEGAN FOOD REVIEWS in honor of our 300th episode. Nicole shares her tip for saving $25 at Erewhon. We try Watermelon Seed Milk, Sól Date Almond Milk, Eat'n Popcorn, Bjorn Quorn, Mookie Health Cookies, Kuli Moringa & Super Greens Gummies, UNCUT ground chorizo, Seapoint Farms Edamame Fettucine, Toriyen (Tujunga's best vegan sushi), Ella's Flats, Intelligentsia instant coffee packets, a stingy hotel, a Stumptown cold brew update, touring as vegans with the band Gossip, AND MORE. Happy 300th Anniversary!   Support us at: patreon.com/nicolejgeorges   Sagittarian Matters is hosted & produced by Nicole J. Georges with help from Ponyo Georges.  Our executive producer is Chris Sutton, and today’s episode was edited by Shanna Polley.Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs composed and performed our theme music.  

We are over the moon to welcome noted Sagittarius Perrin Roosevelt Ireland to talk about queer animals, parthenogenesis, elephant seal gender roles and MORE. Plus! Nicole's current animal obsessions, our graphic memoir community, and how to handle climate grief. Perrin's new book, Poking the Squid: What We Can Learn From Animal Sex is out now with Norton!      Perrin Roosevelt Ireland is an artist and environmentalist. For a decade, she worked at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), ultimately as deputy to the executive director. Her artwork has been published in Discover, Nature, Scientific American, and The Rumpus. She serves on the board of the Roosevelt Institute, was an inaugural Artist in Residence at the New York Aquarium and is a Banff Graphic Novel Resident. Perrin lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her cats (and muses) Ursula and Pudge.   Find Perrin, her books and the Society to Save Slap and Tickle at experrinment.com.      Sagittarian Matters is hosted & produced by Nicole J. Georges with help from Ponyo Georges.  Our executive producer is Chris Sutton, and the podcast is edited by Shanna Polley. Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs composed and performed our theme music. Please leave your 5 star reviews for us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts, and  Find us on instagram @sagittarian Matters and on patreon patreon.com/nicolejgeorges.       Sagittarian Matters is hosted & produced by me, Nicole J. Georges with help from Ponyo Georges.  Our executive producer is Chris Sutton, and today’s episode was edited by me. Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs composed and performed our theme music. Please leave your 5 star reviews for us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts, and  Find us on instagram @sagittarian Matters and on patreon patreon.com/nicolejgeorges. See you next time.

We are over the moon to welcome Beaux Lyles Lamotte and Dr. Joan Lubin to the podcast to describe an entire episode of Traitors to me (Nicole) because I did not watch it.   Beaux Lyles Lamotte is an honored Sagittarius and the witch behind Magic Hour Candles.  You can find Beaux at magichourcandles.com. Use the code ilovemonet at checkout for 20% off. You can’t afford NOT to buy some of their candles.   Joan Lubin is a major reality dating competition show enthusiast, and assistant professor of English and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Yale university.   You can support my art, producer Ponyo, the podcast and ALSO  access get exclusive episodes, videos and early releases by going to  to patreon.com/nicolejgeorges NOW and become an Honorary Sagittarian! Thank you for your support.    

We are over the moon to be joined by honored Sagittarius Beaux Lyles Lamotte to discuss TRAITORS US season 4 (including the new cast and the SECRET TRAITOR) and also to talk about what we each wanted to be when we grew up.  Tune in.   You can find Beaux at MagicHourCandles.com Support the podcast and watch a video version of our episode at patreon.com/nicolejgeorges    

We are over the moon to welcome back friend to the show DEAN SPADE to give advice on political divides with family, the term "emotional affairs",  grief, ageism and the romance myth, friend breakups/makeups, boundaries with your date's ex, coworkers and MORE with my very special guest, Dean spade.  PLUS advice on looming pet grief, with an extra bit at the end from Nicole. Stay tuned.   Dean Spade has been working to build queer and trans liberation based in racial and economic justice for the past two decades. He is a law professor  and the author of the books Love in a Fucked Up World, Mutual Aid: building solidarity during this crisis and the next, and Normal Life: Administrative Violence, Critical Trans Politics and the Limits of Law   Dean joined me in the sagittarian matters social distancing studios to give advice to listeners and to tell me about his new patreon page. You can join him now at patreon.com/deanspade.

We are over the moon to welcome back friend to the show DEAN SPADE for some advice on love, liberation, intergenerational dating, boundaries and MORE. Dean joined me in honor of his new podcast, Love in a F*cked Up World. We will be posting the third episode, with guests Tourmaline and Morgan Bassichis, in our podcast stream alongside this episode.   Now please enjoy my talk with…. Dean Spade.   p.s. We will be recording more advice together soon! If you'd like to submit a question, please DM Sagittarian Matters on instagram.   Dean Spade has been working to build queer and trans liberation based in racial and economic justice for the past two decades. He is a professor at the Seattle University School of Law, and the author of the books Love in a Fucked Up World, Mutual Aid: building solidarity during this crisis and the next, and Normal Life: Administrative Violence, Critical Trans Politics and the Limits of Law    

Today on Sagittarian Matters we are completing our Ultimatum Queer Love s2 coverage by talking with reality dating competition show enthusiast and expert, Joan Lubin. In the second part of the show, we recapped season 3 episode 7 of And Just Like That, the episode where everyone (except the known Broadway stars) sang karaoke,  The Woman shared a drink with Duncan, and then got wildly hostile when Miranda acknowledged reality.     You can hear us recapping the entire season of AJLT Patreon.com/nicolejgeorges. If you become an Honorary Sagittarian or above you’ll have access to tons of bonus episodes, diary comics and top ten lists, AND you’ll be supporting my art and podcasting work, as well as the work of producer Ponyo and assistant executive producer Hermes the tortoise.   Today's episode was edited and produced by me, Nicole J. Georges. 

We are over the moon to present you with the finale of our 3-part Queer Ultimatum crossover coverage with Nicole's other podcast, The Gaymazing Race.  In this episode, titled MAGAN MOANS SADLY, Nicole and Karen Tongson are joined by professors Poulomi Saha and Greta LaFleur to discuss the Ultimatum Queer Love REUNION and provide final thoughts and commentary on this season.  Please join us as we discuss the fate of Nicole's trial wife, what counts as queer sex anyway, and what part of the reunion felt like  "a paid promotion by heterosexuality". Stay tuned. Want to support the podcast? Please do! Become an Honorary Sagittarian at: patreon.com/nicolejgeorges

We are over the moon to present our 2nd of 3 Queer Ultimatum crossover episodes with The Gaymazing Race.  Creator of the Ultimatum Fantasy League Dani Wassel, and raconteur, writer and performer Amanda-Faye Jimenez join Karen Tongson and Nicole to process everything from "The Choice" to "Ultimatum Day." We discuss a range of topics from trial spouse criteria, to  mommy issues, to sexual loopholes and "good old fashioned tribadism."

We are over the moon to present you with this crossover episode with Nicole's other podcast, The Gaymazing Race. TGR returns with 3 special bonus episodes on season 2 of THE ULTIMATUM: QUEER LOVE. Karen and Nicole gather queer experts, friends of the pod and Ultimatum enthusiasts to join them in astute, if also sometimes raw and raunchy assessments of the couplings, uncouplings and potential throuplings of Netflix's messiest queer dating show. This week: Greta La Fleur and Poulomi Saha join us to introduce all the couples, haircuts, trial spouses and more leading up to "The Choice."

Alison Bechdel returns to the podcast to talk about drawing goats, making a living as a lesbian and her new book SPENT!   Alison Bechdel is a Virgo friend to the show and  the author of the comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For, and the graphic memoirs Fun Home, Art you My Mother and The Secret to Superhuman Strength. She joined me in the Sagittarian Matters Social Distancing Studios to talk about her newest book, SPENT- a comic novel.   Alison is hitting the road with her new book Spent later this month. Look her up and go see her in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco AND MORE!   You can listen to my 2016 and 2018 Sagittarian Matters interviews with Alison on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.    

We are over the moon to welcome back birthday twin to the show BEAUX LYLES-LAMOTTE to discuss the finale, reunion, and episode 10 of TRAITORS.  Plus, Nicole's most recent and bizarre travel innovation.    Beaux Lyles-Lamotte is an honored sagittarius and the witch behind Magic Hour Candles. They love reality t.v. and have been offering their Housewife insights all season as we've recapped The Traitors US, Season 3.  You can find Beaux at magichourcandles.com Listen to the end of the show for a special offer code for listeners to get 15% off their order at magichourcandles.com.  If you want to  access the entire SEASONS of Love is Blind and Traitors recaps,  plus see exclusive videos, bonus episodes,  listen to everything early and frankly support my work and read HUNDREDS of pages of unpublished diary comics,  Please go to patreon.com/nicolejgeorges and become an honorary sagittarian or above TODAY! And if you join at a higher level, I’ll say your name on the podcast. Producer Ponyo will too

Wedding bells are ringing and longboards are rolling as we recap the FINALE and REUNION of Love is Blind with friend to the show, Dr. Joan Lubin.  Joan joined me in the Sagittarian Matters Social Distancing Studios to recap the finale and reunion  of a show that feels like a self-styled lobotomy, Love Is Blind, season 8.   Dr. Joan Lubin is a major reality dating competition show enthusiast, and Assistant Professor of Modern and Contemporary Literature at Durham University.

We are over the moon to welcome reality dating show enthusiast Dr. Joan Lubin to the Sagittarian Matters Social Distancing Studios to recap episodes 1-3 of Love Is Blind, season 8.  Join us, won't you, as we discuss attachment styles, straight men, and how Nicole would fare on this very show (spoiler: she'd do GREAT). Find recaps of the rest of this season of Love Is Blind, plus bonus videos, Traitors, and early access episodes on Patreon! Patreon.com/nicolejgeorges Thank you for your support.   Dr. Joan Lubin is a major reality dating competition show enthusiast, and Assistant Professor of Modern and Contemporary Literature at Durham University.         

We are over the moon to welcome Honored Sagittarius Beaux Lyles Lamotte back to the show to give a full breakdown on the reality star-studded cast of Traitors UK, and to recap episode one. I get a crash course in Scandoval, The Housewives, Gabby the gay Bachelorette, Carolyn from Survivor (Courtney Love as professional wrestler?) and all the contestants who entered Alan Cumming's castle this season. We also discuss my DeeDee Ramone haircut of yore, seeing Jillian Michaels from the Biggest Loser on a dating app, breakups over Skype, AND MORE.    You can find videos and more Traitors recaps at patreon.com/nicolejgeorges   You can find Beaux at magichourcandles.com  

We were over the moon to welcome Dean Spade to the Social Distancing Studios to give advice to listeners in honor of his book, Love In A Fucked Up World (available now). Dean and I gave advice to listeners on love, despair, dating, distance,  liberation, boundaries and MORE.   Dean Spade has been working to build queer and trans liberation based in racial and economic justice for the past two decades. He is a professor at the Seattle University School of Law, and the author of the books Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis and the Next, and Normal Life: Administrative Violence, Critical Trans Politics and the Limits of Law   You can get his new book, Love In A F*cked Up World NOW through Bluestockings, or your preferred independent bookstore.    Sagittarian Matters is hosted & produced by Nicole J. Georges, with assistance from Ponyo Georges. Our Executive Producer is Chris Sutton, and our editor is Shanna Polley. You an support the podcast by joining Patreon as an Honorary Sagittarius, Ponyo's Friend Club Member or above. Patreon.com/nicolejgeorges Thank you for your support.     

Ep 284: Solomon J. Brager!   We are over the moon to welcome graphic novelist Solomon Brager to the podcast to discuss their new book, Heavyweight, AND complain about ice cream, talk graphic memoir, history, confronting zi**ism, and give advice on friends, leaving academia, tortoise food and MORE.   Solomon J.  Brager is a writer, teacher, and artist. They are currently a Jerome Hill Artists Fellow, a member of the Pinko magazine editorial collective and the director of community engagement at Jewish Currents magazine. Sol joined me from their home in New York to discuss their new book, Heavyweight- a family story of holocaust, empire, and memory.   Like the show? Become an Honorary Sagittarian at patreon.com/nicolejgeorges .  Need advice? Call 971-361-9998 and leave a message!    Time stamps: Beginning: The bummers of avocado food politics 3:40 Talking Heavyweight: getting fired for being anti-zionist 7:10 Less-effective political strategies 9:35 "You need to train your body out of being afraid of people who disagree with you. That's not a feeling you can trust."  9:50 The family history behind the book 13:05 Graphic Novel process: Hand-lettering, traditional vs. digital drawing & more 20 Choices between what parts of the story were visual vs text 28:24 The joy of filling in backgrounds with black paint 29- book cover talk ADVICE: 34:16 - How do I talk to my zi**ist friends about what’s going on? 38:25- Should I leave academia? Is there life after academia? Is it even possible? FOOD:  43:35 Bemoaning the changes at Van Leeuwen ice cream 47:55 Advice: How do I differentiate the tortoise’s food from my own?  Bonus cucumber recipe    

Show less   We are over the moon to have MICHELLE TEA back in the Sagittarian Matters Social Distancing Studio in honor of her new anthology, SLUTS- the inaugural book of Dopamine Press. Michelle Tea joined us to give  listeners advice on writing, boundaries, people pleasing, tattoo remorse, and more!  But first, in an Unsolicited Vegan Food Review, Katy Davidson tries Acai for the first time and is very surprised.    Go learn more about Sluts and all upcoming books and events at dopaminepress.org.  Go listen & buy Katy's new album, Human Futures, here.    You can listen episodes early and support Sagittarian Matters by becoming an Honorary Sagittarius on Patreon. Patreon.com/nicolejgeorges This week on Patreon, we have a bonus video episode with Michelle Tea, where Nicole recounts the Perfect Wife docu-series, we talk shrimping, prudishness, and more.    Today's episode produced and hosted by Nicole J. Georges, with Executive Produced by Chris Sutton, with editor Shanna Polley, field producer Ponyo Georges, and intern Gigi Peloso.   

  We are over the moon to welcome Capricorn CHRIS VARGAS back to the show to discuss his new book, Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects. But first! We do some live reporting from a Golden Girls show in Hollywood, where Chris & I were treated to room-temperature coke, hateful theater patrons and top notch impersonations.   Bonus: Chris discusses a Florida snorkel boat trip   Chris Vargas is also a Guggenheim-award winning artist, filmmaker, professor, and the founder of MOTHA, the Museum of Transgender Hirstory and Art. Chris and his collaborators  have just released a giant, beautiful book, Trans Hirstory in 99 objects. A compelling exploration of trans art, activism, and resistance.   In this episode we discuss Angela Douglas, Assunta Femia, Pippa Garner, Catholics regendering indigenous people of California, the Tootsie film genre, A Hormonal Fog AND MORE.   Get Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects by Chris Vargas, Christina Linden & David Evan Frantz now! Wherever you get your books.  

Today on the podcast, we are remembering beloved friend to the show Trina Robbins, who passed away April 10th, 2024 at age 85.    We are rebroadcasting a solo interview from 2016 (before the rotting pumpkin took office), and a live interview Nicole did in 2017 with Trina, Lee Marrs and Mary Wings at Root Division in San Francisco.   Enjoy. 

We are over the moon to have known Sagittarius Cathy de la Cruz join us to discuss a CHICKEN RESCUE on the streets of Brooklyn.  PLUS! Dawn defends her honor, reviews something called Giggles,  Morgan & Dawn review CAROB MOLASSES together, Nicole tries it, and talks about getting NEW GLASSES, and MORE.    Tune in!

Today on Sagittarian matters! We’re over the moon to welcome Morgan back to the show to  talk about Cafix, CELERY, Trader Joes Vegan Fish, TJ's Bird Nest, signs of aging, the smell of trader joes, Alfred Coffee, Outstanding Cheeseballs, Lagusta's cheese powder, Lagusta's turtles, Molasses cookies, Moku mushroom jerky and SO MUCH MORE.    PLUS! An unsolicited food review from Dawn Riddle, with special guest Megan DIneen. 

We are on a summer break & will come back at some point in the fall with an actual season of the show!\ But in the meantime,  We are over the moon today to bring you Tortoise Drama, Diary Comics, Unsolicited Vegan Vacation Food Reviews, Big news, where to find AJLT recaps and MORE.  You can find Nicole's new book here: https://www.phasesevencomics.com/phase8/dogs-breakfast/ Get her 2024 calendar here: nicolejgeorges.com/shop Find an unlocked And Just Like That finale recap bonus episode with Bran Taylor at patreon.com/nicolejgeorges And find Nicole live in person at SPX Small Press Expo, Cartoon Crossroads in Columbus, and Short Run Comics Fest in Seattle.  Featured on today's show,  Roving reporters Dawn, Luca, Morgan & Torrence bring us unsolicited vegan food reviews from Spain, Tucson, & Denver.  Dawn Riddle is a multidisciplinary artist from Portland, Oregon. She is a brilliant painter, weaver, photographer, musician, playwright, videographer and so much more.  Luca J. Davis is a writer, web designer and long distance hiker. You will notice their review is in two parts, because it was  originally sent to me as a video text, which you can see on our instagram page, but  after hearing just the names of BEAUTIFUL tahini drink & breakfast items from Houlden’s Rise Above, I demanded more details. Which Luca sent. Via memo.  Morgan is a baker and seed lover, and Torrence is a cat lover who was once my  very excellent roommate.  Alec Longstreth is an award winning cartoonist. He also works as a freelance illustrator, animator, digital colorist, and comics educator. He works at the Center for Cartoon Studies, just did all the images and some animations for Weezer’s summer tour, and is the author of Basewood  And the all ages comic Isle of Elsi. He runs Phase 8 publishing, and you can get my NEW BOOK by going to his website.  Phasesevencomics.com. You’ll see the phase 8 logo in the top right, click on it, and be taken to a print AND digital download link that directly benefits me! Find Alec's comics at phasesevencomics.com. The audio portion of this episode with Alec was originally recorded and edited by Alec for his Patreon page! Find him here:  https://www.patreon.com/longstreth/posts

BETH PICKENS: Live Advice on Dating, Revenge, Asking, Volunteering, New project announcements and MORE.    We are over the moon to welcome noted Capricorn BETH PICKENS back to the show to give  Advice on Revenge, Dating,  Asking for things,  Working for free, Having a life,  a new press, two new classes AND MORE.    Beth Pickens is the author of the books Your Art Will Save Your Life and Make Your Art No Matter What.   Today's episode was guest edited & produced by our theme song composer, Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs. Thank you Carolyn!      You can find Beth & join her homework club RIGHT NOW at bethpickens.com .   You can find Dopamine Press, Beth Pickens, and Nicole all on  on instagram RIGHT NOW! https://www.instagram.com/dopaminebooksla/

We are over the moon to welcome Capricorn dream LIL MISS HOT MESS to the podcast to discuss her book If You’re a Drag Queen and You Know It, Drag Story Hour, queer drag pedagogy, standing up to fascists and MORE.  AND Aquarius friend to the show MICHELLE TEA joins us to talk about the recent anti-queer violence at the Glendale School Board meeting, and how to show up, resist, and keep your queer joy.  Also- Nicole discusses the latest drama from her "friendly" tortoise Facebook group.  Lil Miss Hot Mess is the author of the children's books If You’re a Drag Queen and You Know It (Running Press Kids, 2022) and The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish (2020) and serves on the board of Drag Story Hour.  She has also appeared on world-class stages like SFMOMA, Stanford University, and Saturday Night Live, was a founding organizer of the #MyNameIs campaign that challenged Facebook’s “real names” policy, and has published essays in The Guardian, Wired, and Salon.  When not twirling, Lil Miss Hot Mess is a university professor. Michelle Tea is the author of over a dozen books, including Knocking myself up, Valencia, Against Memoir, and Black Wave.  She is also the co-creator of Sister Spit and Drag Queen Story Hour.  Michelle joined me from a literary festival’s wellness center in Denver Colorado to discuss the recent attack on the Glendale school board by the proud boys, and how to be an ally and spark queer joy in the face of it.  Please enjoy my talk with Michelle Tea   

Today on a Super Special Pride Edition Crossover Episode, noted Virgo  Karen Tongson of the Gaymazing Race & Waiting to X-hale joins me to talk about THE ULTIMATUM- QUEER LOVE. Stay tuned.  Karen Tongson is the author of Normporn: Television and the Spectacle of Normalcy (forthcoming 2023), Why Karen Carpenter Matters (2019), and Relocations: Queer Suburban Imaginaries (2011). Her current book-in-progress is titled, Empty Orchestra: Karaoke, Queer Performance, Queer Theory (Duke University Press). She received Lambda Literary’s Jeanne Córdova Award for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction for her body of writing in 2019. Tongson currently chairs the department of gender and sexuality studies at USC, where she’s Professor of GSS, English and American studies & ethnicity. Her writing and cultural commentary have recently appeared in Slate, NPR, The Los Angeles Review of Books, PBS NewsHour, The Los Angeles Times, The AV Club, Entertainment Weekly, and KCRW’s Good Food among other venues. Tongson is co-editor of the award-winning book series, Postmillennial Pop with Henry Jenkins at NYU Press, and co-hosts two podcasts: the GenX-themed Waiting to X-Hale with Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, and The Gaymazing Race (a queer podcast about The Amazing Race) with Nicole J. Georges. Today’s episode brought to you by  Jaime Raybin, Khale McHurst, and Zella Minor-House ! If you would like to support sagittarian matters, especially producer Chris sutton, please send $5 $40000 via paypal to [email protected] or Hellbooks on Venmo.  Thank you for your support and we look forward to saying your name on the podcast. Producer Ponyo looks forward to it too. 

We are over the moon to welcome EILEEN MYLES back to the program.    We talk about Meditation, the concept of home, Making money as an artist, films, tea bags, coparenting, girlfriends ex girlfriend, tolerating the intolerable, activist groups, self-care, ambition and creativity.    Plus, Nicole gives an Unsolicited Whole Foods music review, hardcore music revisit & introduces HERMES THE TORTOISE!  Eileen Myles  is a Sagittarius, a poet, a  novelist, a performer and an art journalist. Their more than twenty books include Cool for You, I Must Be Living Twice, Chelsea Girls, afterglow, and MORE.  Eileen has received a Guggenheim Fellowship and was recently elected a member of the American Academy of Arts & Letters.    Eileen joined me from their home in Marfa, Texas to talk about their new book of poetry, A Working Life.  “With intelligence, heart, and singular vision, a “Working Life” shows Eileen Myles working at a thrilling new pitch of their poetic and philosophical powers.”   They ALSO have a giant, beautiful, important new anthology, Pathetic Literature.  Go get both!  

Morgan is a frequent contributor to Sagittarian Matters. She is the former purveyor of Dovetail Bakery, and  loves dry crunchy foods  more than any earthling could understand.    Beth Pickens is the author of the books Your Art Will Save Your Life and Make Your Art No Matter What. Beth is an arts consultant, a CAPRICORN, and an esteemed friend to the show.  You can join her homework club RIGHT NOW at bethpickens.com .     Foods we discuss this episode:   Golden beet poke   Bon Devil ganache   Bam Milk   Snak Club Tajine Gummy Bears   Flaxmeal!   Chocolate covered chickpeas   MEAL TRAIL ADVICE: Veggie Galette, Pho, Mix-n-match Por Que No (Portland)   The zen of Grocery Outlet   Maciel’s plant based butcher (LA)   Ranchside Cafe Ethiopian menu (LA)    Fermenter Koji (Portland) Beet Reuben    Hot Tongue Pizza (LA) - two tongues up.    Baked Feta recipe from  Vegan Cheese by Jules Aron   Food Fight peanut butter cup shake (Portland)   THERMOS   Kitchen Mouse bakery soup   Milk frother   Maca Powder drink     Sip Cart Almond butter maca date smoothie

Today on a very special episode of Sagittarian Matters,  We are talking about the connections between TERFs & fascism! Plus the word dyke. With Professor Greta La Fleur.    Greta LaFleur is an Associate Professor of American Studies at Yale University, and the author or editor of three books and three journal special issues., including the new issue of Transgender Studies Quarterly,  “Trans Exclusionary Feminisms and the Global New Right”, which was co-edited by with Serena Bassi.   You can get this special issue right now from dukeupress.edu.    At the top of the show, Nicole discusses a local chipmunk, her upcoming diary comic collection, and reading March 24 at Heavy Manners Library in LA.   

WILL BETKE BRUNSWICK! Vegan food, Grief, Comics, Advice, and MORE. Plus- unsolicited vegan food review from Morgan!     Today on Sagittarian Matters! We give advice on grief, moving, comics and more- Plus the premiere of Vegan I Don’t Think so Honey. With my special guest, graphic memoirist, WILL BETKE BRUNSWICK! Stay tuned.      Unsolicited Vegan Food Review with MORGAN! Four Sigmatic vegan coconut creamer   PLUS: The world premiere of Vegan I Don't Think So Honey, a DIRECT ode/ripoff to Las Culturistas segment of the same name, which I highly recommend.      Will Betke-Brunswick is a cartoonist and graduate of the California College of the Arts MFA in Comics program. Will’s debut graphic memoir, A PROS AND CONS LIST FOR STRONG FEELINGS, is available from Tin House! You can find Will’s comics anywhere you buy books, or follow them on instagram @Transboycomics

We are over the moon to welcome back noted TRIPLE CAPRICORN Jessica Lanyadoo! We talk about covid protocol & different information, and answer advice questions on friend's transphobic choices, joining a new community as a queer person, the Christ Year, and MORE.    Tune in.    Also! Nicole mentions the campaign to stop a development from paving over the Verdugo mountain lion's home. Sign the petition & find out more here: nocanyonhills.org @nocanyonhills on ig.   Jessica Lanyadoo is an internationally respected Astrologer and Psychic Medium who has been in private practice with clients all over the world since 1995. You may recognize her from her special guest appearance on Relative Fiction.  Jessica is a triple capricorn, she has a wonderful podcast called Ghost of a Podcast, and Her wonderful book,  Astrology for Real Relationships, which is available RIGHT NOW!!! Find it at lovelanyadoo.com, or anywhere books are sold.  @jessica_lanyadoo on instagram 

We are over the moon to welcome esteemed Capricorn BETH PICKENS back to the show to answer your advice questions, AND to talk about the word Dyke and Nicole’s stories career as a sandwich artist.  Tune in

Bran Taylor (Magic Hour Astrology) visited Babyland in 2018 & joined us to discuss watching a cabbage give birth, and the nefarious beginnings of the Cabbage Patch Kids. Dawn Riddle & Screaming Females visited Babyland in 2022, and sent us some updates.  TUNE IN

MEGAN MILKS! DAWN RIDDLE! KAIA WILSON! Queer Weirdness,writing, vegan banana-flavored food reviews and HOME ALONE. Tune in!    We are over the moon to share an interview writer Megan Milks, author of Margaret and the Mystery of the Missing Body.    BUT FIRST!  We have unsolicited vegan banana-flavored food reviews with Dawn Riddle & Screaming Females, and a long review and revisitation of the movies Home Alone 1 and two, with spouse to the show Kaia Wilson.    Hey! If you are listening to this and you’d like to take my graphic memoir workshop, I have a 5-week class coming up in April. Jog over to my website, Nicolejgeorges.com, for details.    Dawn Riddle is a multidisciplinary artist from Portland, Oregon. She is a brilliant painter, weaver, photographer, musician, playwright, videographer AND unsolicited food review correspondent.    Here are two reviews from Dawn’s recent travels to Philadelphia, and on the road with the band Screaming Females, including friend to the show Marisa Paternoster, who you’ll hear in the background.    Kaia Wilson is a musician and a positive reinforcement dog trainer in Portland, Oregon. She has played guitar in the band Team Dresch since 1993, and has been working professionally with dogs since 2012. You can  find her on instagram at dogspeedtraining or on the World Wide Web  at dogspeed.dog     Megan Milks is the author of Margaret and the Mystery of the Missing Body and Slug and Other Stories, a finalist for a 2022 Lambda Literary Award. They are also the author of Tori Amos Bootleg Webring, and tThey co-edited We Are the Babysitters Club, an anthology.    You can sign up for Megan’s writing workshop: What is this thing called weird? Which starts JANUARY 24TH right now. Find it at theshipmanagency.com

We are over the moon to share an interview writer Megan Milks, author of Margaret and the Mystery of the Missing Body.    BUT FIRST!  We have unsolicited vegan banana-flavored food reviews with Dawn Riddle & Screaming Females, and a long review and revisitation of the movies Home Alone 1 and two, with spouse to the show Kaia Wilson.    Hey! If you are listening to this and you’d like to take my graphic memoir workshop, I have a 5-week class coming up in April. Jog over to my website, Nicolejgeorges.com, for details.    Dawn Riddle is a multidisciplinary artist from Portland, Oregon. She is a brilliant painter, weaver, photographer, musician, playwright, videographer AND unsolicited food review correspondent.    Here are two reviews from Dawn’s recent travels to Philadelphia, and on the road with the band Screaming Females, including friend to the show Marisa Paternoster, who you’ll hear in the background.      Kaia Wilson is a musician and a positive reinforcement dog trainer in Portland, Oregon. She has played guitar in the band Team Dresch since 1993, and has been working professionally with dogs since 2012. You can  find her on instagram at dogspeedtraining or on the World Wide Web  at dogspeed.dog     Megan Milks is the author of Margaret and the Mystery of the Missing Body and Slug and Other Stories, a finalist for a 2022 Lambda Literary Award. They are also the author of Tori Amos Bootleg Webring, and tThey co-edited We Are the Babysitters Club, an anthology.    You can sign up for Megan’s writing workshop: What is this thing called weird? Which starts JANUARY 24TH right now. Find it at theshipmanagency.com    

This week we welcome Phil Elverum and Marianna Ritchey to talk about the life and art of Geneviève Castrée.    Geneviève Castrée was a French Canadian cartoonist, illustrator and musician. She was the author of the books Susceptible, A Bubble, and more. She had art exhibitions around the world and toured musically under the names O Paeon and Woelv.    Geneviève passed away on July 9, 2016, at only 35 years old.    She is one of my favorite artists.     Drawn and Quarterly just released her complete works, a giant beautiful book organized, edited and assembled by her husband, Phil Elverum (Mt. Eerie, Microphones).      Marianna Ritchey is  a professor, a musician, and the author of the book Composing Capital: Classical Music in the Neoliberal Era .    She’s an old friend of mine, and a longtime friend of Genevieve’s.    Towards the end of her life, Geneviève created an oracle deck from collaged magazines, and Ritchey was listed as one of her collaborators. If you get the book, which I really hope you do, you’ll see little bits of Ritchey sprinkled throughout, in a diary comic from Australia with her band Lloyd and Michael, and in lists.    I invited her on to talk about the oracle deck and her late friend.    "She was so great. She was a beautiful, wonderful, totally unique person, and I hope everyone will look through this book, and just think about how special she was, and how much she put into the world in such a short amount of time that she was here."  -Ritchey 

We are over the moon to welcome back cartoonist, professor and Jeopardy champion AJUAN MANCE to the podcast.  Ajuan is here to celebrate the release of two books- 1001 Black Men (Stacked Deck Press) and Living While Black (Chronicle). Both of her books are out now!    Also on this episode: Nicole talks about the Club Q tragedy & how to support the LGBTQIA+ community when something like this happens.    Ajuan Mance is a Professor of English at Mills College in Oakland, California, a professor of comics at California college of the arts,  and a lifelong artist and writer. In both her scholarly writing and her visual art, Ajuan explores the complexities of race, gender, and identity, Ajuan’s illustrations and comics have appeared in several anthologies, including, Drawing Power, edited by Diane Noomin.  Ajuan has TWO books out that I urge you to get right now! 1001 black men from stacked deck press, and Living While Black with Chronicle books.    You can find Ajuan, her books and more at ajuanmance.com   Now please enjoy my talk with Ajuan Mance. 

We are over the moon today to talk to you about Nicole's favorite New York foods, turning to decaf, getting a really gross matcha, Dawn inviting us over for dinner and having a calamity, Astronaut Ice Cream, Coalinga Coffee, Unwelcoming while still being a good neighbor, and MORE. Tune in! 

We are over the moon today to bring you UNSOLICITED VEGAN FOOD REVIEWS of ants, wind, a blueberry woman's personality, Nicole's farmer's market outfit, blueberries, Beyond Jerkey, Sesame Milk, Not-Burgers, Tofurkey Sandwiches, Cauliflower Tahini Prune ICE CREAM and more.  Tune in! 

MICHELLE TEA!!! Advice on publishing, exes, ethics, copycats & more.      We are over the moon to welcome back very special guest MICHELLE TEA, to dole out advice on publishing, weathering copycats, bad exes, bad dreams, writing ethics, writing practices, and more.    Go see me & Michelle LIVE, August 6th at Powells City of Books in Portland, Oregon, where we will be talking about her new book, Knocking Myself Up.        Michelle Tea is the author of over a dozen books, including  Valencia, Against Memoir, and Black Wave.  She is also the co-creator of Sister Spit and Drag Queen Story Hour.    Michelle’s new book: Knocking Myself Up, is out now.    DAWN RIDDLE is our roving unsolicited vegan food reviewer. She is also a wonderful artist! Today she brings us GF Snyders of Hanover pretzel rods.  find her here: Dawnriddle.com   

We are over the moon today to have honored Capricorn BETH PICKENS on the show to dole out advice on accepting opportunities and making time for your art practice. PLUS we answer a couple vintage advice questions about problematic friends and how to accept your character assets that have gone out of wack.    PLUS beverage reviews from DAWN RIDDLE & friends, and Nicole tells you how she got the novel CORONAVIRUS 19.  TUNE IN!   Beth Pickens is the author of the books Your Art Will Save Your Life and Make Your Art No Matter What. Beth is an arts consultant, a CAPRICORN, and an esteemed friend to the show.  You can join her homework club RIGHT NOW at bethpickens.com .

We are over the moon today to welcome friend to the show morgan back to the show, PLUS unsolicited vegan prune review from dawn riddle!    We talk about  Spanish prunes  Trader Joe’s Cashew Ravioli  Miyokos pourable pizza cheese  Vegan smoked salmon  Chickpea tofu  Strawberry prices  Snacklins New Farm Cookbook  Middle aged Hummingbird feeder tips and more 

Dramatic Facebook comment-reading, the plague of the scrub jay, and Christian damage!    We are over the moon to welcome artist Jessica Campbell to the show this week!   Jessica Campbell is an interdisciplinary artist originally from Nanaimo, British Columbia. She is the author of three graphic novels, including Rave, out now with  Drawn & Quarterly. Her work has been exhibited at museums and galleries throughout North America.

We are over the moon to have cartoonist Emily Carrington on the show today. Her debut graphic memoir, Our Little Secret, is out now with Drawn and Quarterly.     Our Little Secret is a testament to survival and to the importance of telling your story your way    Tune in to hear about comics, writing, healing, and how to support survivors of childhood abuse in your life.    Content warning, we are going to discuss abuse and particularly childhood sexual abuse.   Now please enjoy my talk with graphic memoirist, Emily Carrington

We are over the moon to have Lagusta Yearwood back on the podcast! We talk about the latest Netflix swindler show, the raw movement of the early 2000s, RAW by Juliano, and more! PLUS! An Unsolicited vegan food review by DAWN RIDDLE, Nicole steps into her country hearth destiny, and MORE. Tune in!

Today on Sagittarian Matters- we talk about Money. We’re healing your finances, leaving  shame and scarcity in the dust and answering your advice questions with Jessie Susannah Karnatz, in honor of her new book, MONEY MAGIC. Tune in.    Jessie Susannah Karnatz (aka the Money Witch) is a financial coach and the founder of Money Witch, a company that uses practical financial tools and empowering rituals to help clients achieve their financial goals. She is based in San Francisco, California.  

We are over the moon to welcome formerly Anonymous Butch Zari Esaian back to the show to answer your advice questions about boundaries, dating, moving, and more.    We ALSO have the true pleasure of an Unsolicited Vegan Food Review from Dawn Riddle and honored Friend to the Show Morgan. PLUS! Kaia Wilson joins us for a review of a bad bad brunch place.    Tune in. 

We are over the moon this week to welcome musician and vegan connoisseur ROMY to talk with us about all her favorite vegan foods at home and abroad.  We talk about Dr. Bronners Chocolate, Bonsoi Soy Milk, Bé Ù, salt & pepper tofu, and MORE. PLUS! Excerpts of new music by Romy & her band, Agender.    Plus! Nicole opens up the show talking about moving to Tujunga, and Ponyo’s new life as a punk in a coyote vest.    Tune In. 

We are over the moon to welcome back friend to the show, MORGAN to taste test PRUNE LATTES today, as suggested by listener Paula Simon on instagram. But first! Nicole gives a round up on where she's been, we hear some coyotes freaking out, and we get some more UNSOLICITED VEGAN FOOD REVIEWS. Plus! Oh Happy Days Cafe in Altadena California. A restaurant/store harkening back to vegan days of yore.  TUNE IN!