Woodstein Media Podcast Episode 28: Tarantula Tapes founders Casey and Core talk about DIY labels, Bitch Fest 2024 and music they love

This episode features a conversation with Casey and Core, cofounders of Barrie, Ontario’s independent music label Tarantula Tapes. They talk about releasing music they love and some of the problems they have overcome regarding quality control working at a DIY level. They recommend some of their favourite releases from the label’s first three years and future releases they are hyped to bring to music lovers.

Woodstein Media Podcast Episode 26: Earl Wyvern on arts, music with The Beards, Beaver Slap, Angry Spells and ‘horrendous progressive politics’

In this episode, Barrie Ontario musician Earl Wyvern discusses their history and involvement in the DIY Arts Collective, which progressed to a deep involvement in music, promoting shows through Gay Ass Productions and slamming eardrums on recording and stages for the past ten years. They are currently playing with Angry Spells and digging deeper into what they refer to as their “horrendous progressive politics” with Earl Wyvern and Spare Parts.
Essentially, their horrendous politics, which they describe as “queer” and “militant,” are just a wish for people to be treated fairly and not single out specific segments of society with excuses not to be kind to them. Wyvern describes this as “what-aboutism” and that when people set out to do good for people, they don’t discriminate about who deserves help in times of need.

‘Support and love everybody because that’s how it should be, right? We don’t have space for hate.’

Six southern Ontario bands rocked Barrie, Ontario’s Simcoe Hotel, in support of trans youth on October 15 during Stonewall 2: Fundraiser Boogaloo.

People who didn’t make it out to enjoy the music ranging from acoustic folk punk to punk and pop rock but still want to support transgender youth as they endure attacks from far-right agitators across Canada can contribute at https://www.transwellness.ca. Trans Wellness Ontario provides counselling, resources and peer support for transgender youth in Ontario at a time when anti-2SLGBTQIA rhetoric is on the rise.

Woodstein Media Podcast Episode 24: Celeste Trianon on the rise of anti-trans hate, how to oppose the hatred, name and gender marker change in Quebec  

As anti-trans rhetoric gets normalized across Canada, activists stand up to the hatred.  This episode highlights the work and activism of Celeste Trianon, a trans-feminine jurist and activist. On the legal front, she helps people in Quebec with name and gender marker changes. Across Canada, she has been involved in activism, resisting hatred directed towards the 2SLGBTQIA community, specifically trans, two-spirit and non-binary people.