It's So Hard

"I'd say the biggest problem faced by the queer community in this country is homelessness..." -Joni Boyd

On 10^th January 2024, Misty Farquhar from Rainbow Futures WA dropped an opinion piece in The West Australian about state Labor’s commitments to enact change for the local LGBTQIA+ community, which are yet to be fulfilled.

Misty Farquhar's article:  Labor all talk, little action in protecting LGBTIQA+ community

In their article, Farquhar discusses the following issues that need amending. If you're a WA resident, please raise these points with your local Member of Parliament:

• Mental health support for the queer community needs sustainable funding
• Intersex babies are being forced to undergo surgeries that they can’t consent to
• Discrimination is being enabled by WA’s out-of-date Equal Opportunity Act
• Trans folks are facing barriers when getting their ID updated to reflect their gender identity

Follow on Instagram - Rainbow Futures WA @rainbowfutureswa, V @puppygirlfemboy, Joni Boyd @checkout_chick463

Contains explicit descriptions.

Mentions -  Decrim WA and Indymedia
It's So Hard is produced by - Jenn and Tess Louise®
Instagram - @softermedia
Website - itssohard.info

S3:E110

"Today is International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers..."

This episode was initially released on 16/12/2021.

Mentions:

• Jasmin Raat Ki Raani - @currypawrn on Instagram
• Spotify: "Migrant Sex Workers of Colour: We Are Here To Take Up Space" on Race Matters podcast
• Listen online: "Migrant Sex Workers of Colour: We Are Here To Take Up Space" on Race Matters podcast
• Jordon Steele-John - @jordonsteelejohn on Instagram

Contains explicit descriptions.

It's So Hard is produced by - Jenn and Tess Louise®
Instagram - @softermedia @jennbrownhere
Website - itssohard.info

S3:E109

"I find myself being very cautious when it comes to other people's expectations - especially uncommunicated expectations - of what they want from me as a trans sex worker." -V

Follow on Instagram - V @puppygirlfemboy, Joni Boyd @checkout_chick463

Contains explicit descriptions.

Mentions - Decrim WA and Indymedia
It's So Hard is produced by - Jenn and Tess Louise®
Instagram - @softermedia
Website - itssohard.info

S3:E108

"We're both facing looking for work as out trans women now, and that's something that neither of us have dealt with before." -Joni Boyd

Follow on Instagram - V @puppygirlfemboy, Joni Boyd @checkout_chick463,

Contains explicit descriptions.

Mentions - Decrim WA and Indymedia
It's So Hard is produced by - Jenn and Tess Louise®
Instagram - @softermedia
Website - itssohard.info

S3:E106

"I think, unequivocally, in my opinion, that eugenics, ableism, the whorearchy, and decriminalisation are in an intrinsic ecology. Disabled rights are sex workers' rights. Sex workers' rights are disability rights. It is all interconnected..." -Lua

Follow on Instagram for updates - @littlelua.s @mxtress.mercy @smutclubfilmfest

Contains explicit descriptions.

Mentions - Sex and Disability Zine, Smut Club Film Festival, Touching Base
It's So Hard is produced by - Jenn and Tess Louise®
Instagram - @sohardpod
Website - itssohard.info

S3:E105

Lua and Mercy chat about neurodiversity and late ADHD/autism diagnoses. Lua touches on the grief of wishing they knew sooner and Mercy shares how their relationship with masking shifted over time.

We'll continue this conversation in episode 105 by exploring the intersection between sex work and disability.

Follow on Instagram for updates - @littlelua.s @mxtress.mercy @smutclubfilmfest

Contains explicit descriptions.

Mentions - Smut Club Film Festival
It's So Hard is produced by - Jenn and Tess Louise®
Instagram - @sohardpod
Website - itssohard.info

S3:E104

Before we peel back the layers of Child Sexual Abuse, what exactly is CSA? What did it mean for Jenn? And how does it still impact her life?

Lifeline 13 11 14
13YARN (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander folks) 13 92 76
1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

Bravehearts
1800 627 393
@braveheartsprotectkids

Blue Knot Foundation
1300 657 380
@blueknotfoundation

SAMSN
1800 472 676
@samsn_aus

The National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse
@NCACSA

Loud Fence Inc.
@loudfence

The Grace Tame Foundation
@gracetamefoundation

The Survivor Hub
@thesurvivorhub

What Were You Wearing
@whatwereyouwearing_

Contains explicit violent descriptions.

It's So Hard is produced by - Jenn and Tess Louise®
Instagram - @sohardpod
Website - itssohard.info

S3:E103

Ariela Moscowitz and Isidoro Rodriguez discuss the definition of sex work, who enters the industry, and the power of stigmas. Ariela unpacks the 4 legal models that govern sex workers all over the world: criminalisation, legalisation, the Nordic model, and decriminalisation.

Ariela is the Director of Communications for Decriminalize Sex Work, an organisation pursuing a state-by-state strategy to end the prohibition of consensual sex work in the United States.

Isidoro Rodriguez is a criminal justice journalist and former deputy editor for The Crime Report. In 2020, he wrote an in-depth article called Predators Behind the Badge: Confronting Police Sexual Misconduct. Izzy also discussed police sexual misconduct with Tess on episode 90 and he continues to research and report on this topic.

The Crime Report initially platformed this recording on 23rd September 2022. The Crime Report is a nonprofit outlet dedicated to providing an independent, non-partisan marketplace of news and ideas.

Many thanks to Ariela, Izzy, and The Crime Report for allowing us to also share this conversation in the interest of raising awareness.

"Decriminalisation is the only legal model that centres power around the worker." -Ariela Moscowitz

Follow on Instagram for updates - @decrimsexwork @isidoro_c_rodriguez @thecrimereportmedia 

Contains explicit violent descriptions.

It's So Hard is produced by - Jenn and Tess Louise®
Instagram - @sohardpod
Website - itssohard.info

S3:E102

Tess gives an overview of Shirley Finn’s story. We discuss Shirley’s pressures and motivations, including but not limited to sex work.

It was beyond the scope of this episode to track Shirley’s interactions with individual detectives and politicians. However, it is worth exploring. See links below.

Contains explicit violent descriptions.

Mentions - Decrim QLD
Hosts - Jenn and Tess Louise®
Website - itssohard.info

S3:E101

00:04:20 – 00:07:57: Perth society, especially in late 1800’s and early 1900’s. See  The Petticoat Parade by Leigh Straw, Fremantle Press.

00:07:57 – 00:08:34: Police containment. See Scarlet Alliance.

00:10:22 – 00:14:30: Shirley’s life. See documentary Getting Away With Murder by Australian Story.

00:14:30 – 0015:55: A later police commissioner discussing police containment. See documentary about Dorrie Flatman by Whicker’s World.

00:15:55 – 00:22:34: Shirley’s life. See documentary Getting Away With Murder by Australian Story.

00:22:34 - 00:25:15: Former police officer Mr Colynn Rowe, lost evidence, suspects. Article.

00:26:08 – 00:27:05: Suspects. Article.

00:27:18 – 00:29:26: Coroner Barry King’s report. Article.

Also see Juliet Wills's book, Dirty Girl. It was written with help from Shirley’s daughter, Bridget Shewring, and the witnesses who had come forward at the time of writing.

As season 2 comes to a close, we explore the essential - but fragile - relationships between sex work representation, confidentiality, and intersectionality. We also discuss the future of It's So Hard.

Contains explicit sexual descriptions.

Mentions - Progressive Therapeutic Collective, Isidoro Rodriguez, Joni Boyd, and Decrim WA
Hosts - Jenn and Tess Louise®
Website - itssohard.info
Music - "No Justice", The Empress 2021 by Lil Hoe

S2:E100

Lil Hoe asked, "What are you most grateful for that has come out of starting a podcast together?"

Contains explicit sexual descriptions.

Hosts - Jenn and Tess Louise®
Website - itssohard.info
Music - "No Justice", The Empress 2021 by Lil Hoe

S2:E99

After a stressful run-in with the medical system as a fat person, Jenn chats about self-advocacy and moving through her freeze/fawn responses.

Contains explicit sexual descriptions.

Hosts - Jenn and Tess Louise®
Website - itssohard.info
Music - "No Justice", The Empress 2021 by Lil Hoe

S2:E98

It's fair to say we've both had a bit on and we've got a bit to say in ep 97 of It's So Hard, a podcast about the sex industry and other sexy things...

Jenn and Tess discuss the death of George Pell and it's impact across victim-survivor communities. Jenn shares her recent learning about advocacy and direct action, and a little activist experiment she took part in in response to the media frenzy over Pell. 

If you want to connect in with CSA victim-survivor communities, check out the following:

 - Loud Fence (@loudfence)

 - The Blue Knot Foundation (@blueknotfoundation)

 - The Survivors and Mates Support Network (SAMSN) for male survivors (@samsn_aus)

 - What Were You Wearing (@whatwereyouwearing_)

 - The Survivor Hub (@thesurvivorhub)

 - Bravehearts (@braveheartsprotectkids)

 - The Care Leavers Australiasian Network (CLAN) (@careleaversaustralia)

 - Broken Rites (http://www.brokenrites.org.au/)

Content warning: NSFW, contains explicit sexual descriptions and some naughty humour!

Hosts: Jenn and Tess Louise

Intro Music: "No Justice" by Lil Hoe (@the.people.hoe)

We're into 2023 for ep 96 of It's So Hard, a podcast about the sex industry and other sexy things.

Jenn and Tess chat about all things "resolutions", and how we're both embracing the chaos of life and trying to be okay with things that are unresolved! Jenn also shares a family rant and we shout out everyone who has been facing challenges this holiday period. For more tips from Jenn about managing during the holidays, head over to patreon.com/itssohard. 

Content warning: NSFW, contains explicit sexual descriptions and some naughty humour!

Hosts: Jenn and Tess Louise

Intro Music: "No Justice" by Lil Hoe (@the.people.hoe)

We get creative for ep 95 of It's So Hard, a podcast about life in and around the sex industry... and other sexy things.

After our discussion last week about sex education in schools and the importance of modelling balanced conversations about sex, Tess got inspired. She created a thought scenario game called What Would Jenn Do? Enjoy the discussions about consent and boundaries and do tell us... what would you do?

Content warning: NSFW, contains explicit sexual descriptions and some naughty humour!

Hosts: Jenn and Tess Louise

Intro Music: "No Justice" by Lil Hoe (@the.people.hoe)

Let's talk about sex, baby! Welcome to an educational and empassioned ep 94 of It's So Hard, a podcast about the sex industry and other sexy things.

This week, Jenn and Tess discuss sex and relationship education from a few different angles. They recount their own experiences, and Jenn shares a recent encounter with the classroom content in a religious school - fair warning, it's not great... Jenn and Tess also talk over some of the findings of the most recent National Survey of Australian Secondary Students and Sexual Health and discuss why we are ALL responsible for sex ed and the modelling of healthy sexual and relational behaviours!

National SSASH Report 2018 - https://www.latrobe.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1031899/National-Survey-of-Secondary-Students-and-Sexual-Health-2018.pdf

Content Warning: NSFW, containts explicit sexual descriptions and some naughty humour!

Hosts: Jenn and Tess Louise

Intro Music: "No Justice" by Lil Hoe (@the.peoples.hoe)

We're chatting current events and change in ep 93 of It's So Hard, a podcast about life in and around the sex industry and other sexy things.

Recorded on Friday the 2nd of December in the wake of a signficant national news story, Jenn and Tess talk about some of the legislative and procedural barriers that victim-survivors of rape, sexual and relational violence face when trying to report their experiences and see their complaints through the courts. These barriers impact the safety and wellbeing of many communities and systemic issues require systemic change! Jenn and Tess talk over some important resources and organisations that are working in advocacy and community building for victim-survivors and their allies.

NOTE: Since this recording, further information has emerged of significant procedural misconduct in the Lehrmann trial, including law enforcement illegally handing over of the victim's private medical notes and psychologist case file to the defence team. Additional information, suppressed from publication during the trial, has also been disclosed of at least 5 other complaints of sexual harrassment and sexual assault against the defendent. 

Content Warning: NSFW, containts explicit sexual descriptions and some naughty humour!

Hosts: Jenn and Tess Louise

Intro Music: "No Justice" by Lil Hoe (@the.peoples.hoe)

We have a slight ASMR tinge to ep 92 of It's So Hard, a podcast about sex, relationships, the sex industry, mental health and other life stuff! 

Jenn is out of hospital and provides a mental health update while also trying to be discreet in a local library... quite a task! We also discuss the current legal system as it relates to abortion in Western Australia. The government has released an online survey about potential policy changes. We chat about our motivations for participating in the survey.

Thanks to the uterus-havers who highlighted the barriers they have faced when seeking abortions.

Thank you Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John for suggesting policy changes that would make abortions not only legal but accessible to all uterus-havers.

The survey: https://consultation.health.wa.gov.au/pahd-ocho-alr/abortion-laws/consultation/

Follow Jordon Steele-John: https://instagram.com/jordonsteelejohn

Follow local advocate Megan Krakouer: https://instagram.com/megankrakouer

The Deen Clinic: https://www.hepatitiswa.com.au/the-deen-clinic

Content Warning: NSFW, containts explicit sexual descriptions and some naughty humour!

Hosts: Jenn and Tess Louise

Intro Music: "No Justice" by Lil Hoe (@the.peoples.hoe)

Welcome to ep 91 of It's So Hard, a podcast where a civvy and a SWer chat about life in and around the sex industry.

We welcome back SWer advocate and manager of Magenta, Lena Van Hale to chat about navigating performance and personas at work, the unique and often unrecognised labour of talk bookings and the complexities of duty of care boundaries for clients facing mental health battles.

Content Warning: NSFW, containts explicit sexual descriptions and some naughty humour!

Hosts: Jenn and Tess Louise

Intro Music: "No Justice" by Lil Hoe (@the.peoples.hoe)

Welcome to ep 90 of It's So Hard, a podcast about the sex industry and other sexy things. This week, Tess chats with Isidoro Rodriguez, criminal justice journalist and deputy editor for The Crime Report and host of The Crime Report podcast.

We cover Izzy's discussion with Ariela Moscowitz from Decriminalize Sex Work about the worldwide decrim movement, the complicated relationship between sex workers and the media, and we begin unpacking police sexual misconduct. Jenn was unable to make it to this recording but she'll be back soon.

For a deep-dive into police misconduct...

The Crime Report podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/5fRSGQowzuEXnmY2x3oR1h?si=jMBjVZolQlayK_3zgSVZ-g&utm_source=copy-link

Izzy's article, "Predators Behind the Badge" https://thecrimereport.org/2020/03/12/predators-behind-the-badge-confronting-hidden-police-sexual-misconduct/

Incarceration Nation: An examination of the connection between relentless government intervention since colonisation to the trauma and disadvantage experiences by Indigenous Australians - the two key drivers of incarceration https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/incarceration-nation/1930938947662

Dig - Sirens are Coming, a podcast series on police corruption in Queensland https://open.spotify.com/show/5hAm1lIHyC69jZMRJ9lzQo?siaq=Ti7bGfTcQp-jjcxEzdgtZw&utm_source=copy-link

Decriminalize Sex Work https://decriminalizesex.work/

Content Warning: NSFW, containts explicit sexual descriptions and some naughty humour!

Hosts: Jenn and Tess Louise

Intro Music: "No Justice" by Lil Hoe (@the.peoples.hoe)