In this episode of Also I talk to Joyia Fitch

Joyia works in TV, film, theatre and events, as an actress, casting assistant and hostess. She won the Breakthrough Scholarship for Memoir Writers with Curtis Brown Creative in 2024 and received a London Writers Award with Spread the Word for Narrative Non-Fiction in 2021.

Working with Clare Mackintosh, she wrote Of Sound Mind. Mostly. which is included in the anthology Will You Read This, Please? edited by Joanna Cannon (Borough Press, May 2023).

We discuss Joiya’s time in a cult, how she got in and more importantly how she got out. She gives me a very honest account of what it was like at every stage and the work that is ongoing in her life to come to terms with what happened.

There is also mention of self harm and suicide so please bear that in mind

Joyia is currently in the process of writing a book about her experience and I can’t wait to read it.

Will you read this, please? The book can be found on the link below.

https://www.boroughpress.co.uk/products/will-you-read-this-please-9780008520007/

Quick check regarding cults

https://www.psychotherapy.net/article/cult-members

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Creating a community is something that is becoming ever more important to me and in this episode I talk to David Allwood who accidentally founded Homoparody by deciding to recreate a Lady Gaga video in Lockdown. It's now grown to be a creative company that performs far and wide while also providing a weekly dance class to give people a safe space to express themselves physically and finding their tribe.

We also discuss what it's like to compete in the Mr Gay Great Britain competition and how it's a lot more than a beauty pageant. David also told me about the new shows he has just choreographed at the Pleasance Theatre in London

https://www.tht.org.uk/

https://londonfriend.org.uk

https://www.instagram.com/homoparody/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/david_allwood/?hl=en

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52580373-all-the-young-men?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=sCGUA6lRmm&rank=1

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A doctor, a stand up comic and a preacher all walk in to a bar, mostly because it's the same person, Marc Isaac.

Marc grew up in Scotland but is currently based in Melbourne which is were we had our conversation.

We delve in to what it was like to be working in medicine during the covid pandemic across two continents and also what is means to have Faith and how that works in the modern day.

My favourite quote from this episode is "The confidence to accept acceptance when you know you’re not acceptable"

We also discuss suicide and drug use so please bear that in mind if that’s something you’re not up to hearing right now.

If you have enjoyed this episode I would love it if you could forward it on to someone, or share it on your instagram story to help other people find the show.

If you want to check out any of the things we discuss the links are below.

https://www.instagram.com/marcisaaccomedy/

Troy perry autobiography

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/493321.The_Lord_is_my_shepherd_and_he_knows_I_m_gay?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=MRQEad1FFu&rank=1

Metropolitan Community church

https://www.mccchurch.org/landing.html

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Karl-Barth

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paul-Tillich

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/175141.The_Courage_to_Be?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=g2GBBIueCU&rank=4

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