#41 Belonging Through Podcasting

Mar 6

In this season finale episode, Dr. Mona welcomes her friend Pip Davidson, a seasoned publicist, influencer strategist, and familiar voice from the “Belonging While Gender Expansive” episode. In a thoughtful twist, Pip gently turns the conversation inward, inviting Dr. Mona to share how podcasting has shaped her journey and transformed her sense of self. They discuss what inspired Dr. Mona to start the podcast, what she looks for in guests, challenges during the first year of podcasting, and what belonging means to her right now.

To begin, Dr. Mona shares what inspired her to start the podcast. She kept meeting face-to-face with people and having rich conversations where she learned so much. She realized she talked often about belonging and other people were interested in that topic too. The conversations were always authentic, respectful, loving, and insightful. She thought, “Why don’t we record these and start posting them for others to hear?” Every conversation has impacted her and made her redefine what belonging is. One in particular was the episode on intergenerational trauma that expanded her world. Through these conversations, she has learned more about other people’s identities and experiences, and guests feel safe to share those moments. Many connections and friendships have come out of this podcast. The connection and conversation are always first in the episode, while the platform is secondary. In terms of the guests, Dr. Mona is looking for authenticity. It is difficult to have a conversation when people are denying who they are to themselves. She looks for guests that are willing to openly share what that process has been to them to self-abandon.

Next, they talk about some challenges Dr. Mona has faced in her first year of podcasting. There is a lot of work that happens behind the scenes, including all the technical aspects, like lighting, microphones, and cameras. You also need to make sure you are in frame and don’t move too much. She shares that the team at Resonate Recordings comes up with pitch ideas, tells them they are crooked on the screen, removes the pauses and “ums”, and puts the icing on the cake and smooths everything over. The work is very time consuming and she has to be able to trust the team and let them do their thing. She used to try to record multiple episodes in one day, but that was too much on her. She had to learn to have limits with herself so she can get into the rhythm and won’t be so burnt out. Dr. Mona says she doesn’t feel like she owns the podcast or that it’s hers, but it belongs to whoever is connecting to it in some way. She does feel a commitment to belonging that she has made to her own spirit and calling. It feels like something she had to do, and that she’s a vessel that connects her with her ancestors through the top of her head.

Dr. Mona points out everyone’s answer to what belonging means to them is different, but all of the answers fit into one of three distinct threads: seen, embraced, or being celebrated. Expressing vulnerability and being exposed is a witness test for how you belong. You are allowing people to see you, but what they see is up to them. You give people an opportunity to see you, embrace you, misunderstand you, reject you, villainize you, etc. She wants people to be real, regardless of how they are seen by others. She wants the podcast to be a living legacy of the concept of belonging that is out there forever and that one can always revisit. She wants the podcast to reignite, reinvigorate us and help us reflect. She doesn’t know what she will explore with the podcast in the next season, but she is writing a book right now about the idea of belonging.

In closing, Dr. Mona shares that the meaning of belonging can change for us from moment to moment, but right now, belonging to her means she has the freedom, the encouragement, and the ability to explore who she is from moment to moment.

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0:40 - Dr. Mona Introduces Today’s Episode and Guest, Pip Davidson.

3:33 - What inspired you to start this podcast?

8:38 - Have there been any episodes that made you redefine what belonging is?

15:26 - What are you looking for in guests for the podcast?

17:33 - What are some challenges you’ve faced in the first year of podcasting?

24:39 - How does belonging sit with you in terms of owning it and also releasing it?

28:26 - Do you notice a common thread of what belonging means to your guests?

31:39 - How does it make you feel when a guest opens up emotionally and allows you to also be vulnerable?

36:24 - How do you see the podcast evolving in the future?

41:31 - What does belonging mean to you right now?

*****