“Chances are, your preconceived ideas are the byproduct of centuries of white supremacy and Western conceptions of what is accepted as healthy. “ Writer Kiara Gardea puts BIPOC at the forefront in this gaze past the curtain of whiteness in wellness culture.

“Every time I masturbate, I remind myself how beautiful my ability to bring myself pleasure can be. And how this is a sacred practice that no act of violence can take away from me,” writes Anahita Monfared, in this conversation with Claudia Vera about sexual trauma, re-education, and freedom. Please note this piece contains mention of sexual assault and rape that may be triggering to some readers: please practice self-care in your encounter with this work.

“Toxic positivity is a learned behavior, through media tropes and themes, we have been told that our thoughts shape our outcome — but this isn’t accurate as life’s happenings,” Wendy Davila writes on the importance of differentiating between healthy and toxic positivity in oneself, and one’s community.

Three independent makers in the Pacific Northwest use social media to grow & connect — Stella Harvey writes on finding new avenues for creativity and business savvy in a media-saturated world.