Voices Unheard is a weekly livestream series produced by Unicorns.LIVE in partnership with Kelowna Pride Society. 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.
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Voices Unheard is filmed and produced on the unceded, traditional territory of the syilx (Okanagan) people.
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Voices Unheard supported and sponsored by Castanet.
S1E3: Alaina Young
July 28, 2020
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 will discuss 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.
S1E2: Biawanna
July 21, 2020
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 QUSICas musical guest on Wednesday, July 22, 2020.
S1E1: Dustin Dufault
July 14, 2020
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.”
