Phoenix Cast

Introducing Shanae!

• Phoenix Center at Auraria • Season 5 • Episode 1

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Meet the PCA’s newest professional staff member,  Shanae (they/they)!

Learn more about their experience in prevention education, their international travel tips, and their time at the Queen Bee concert!

If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please call our 24/7 interpersonal violence helpline at 303-556-2255.

Request an Appointment with an Advocate at
https://www.thepca.org/online-appointment-request

Request a Violence Prevention Presentation at
https://www.thepca.org/prevention-education

Instagram @phoenixauraria

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Hello everyone and welcome to the Phoenix Cast. Happy fall semester Auraria campus. I'm your host today, Racheal Reed-Maloney and I have a really awesome announcement for you all. Since the PCA was founded back in 2009, our violence prevention education program has only had one professional staff manager, managing the entire program with our marvelous interns. But we all know that's not sustainable and we can't do really great things when we only have one person. So over the summer, we hired a part time prevention educator, named Shanae! So Everyone clap with me very loudly. I won't do that in your ear, but welcome Shanae to the PCA.

Shanae Adams:

Hello! Hello. Hello.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Awesome. Do you want to just go ahead and get started with introducing yourself and we just ask you a couple questions so our listeners can get to know more about you?

Shanae Adams:

Sure, sure. My name is Shanae. I'm born and raised in Denver. I'm a nomad. So I've lived all over the world and all over the country. This as long as I've been back in Colorado since I graduated from undergrad. So we're here now. I've been a sexuality educator, low key since I was like 12, since middle school. So there's 20 plus years that I've been in this game. In the sexuality professional, a lot of the things that I tend to lecture on are about pleasure, or trauma, or kink, those are kind of my favorite things. And I'm also a sex therapist. So I am licensed in the state of Colorado, and a lot of my clients are genderqueer, folks, BIPOC folks, neuro spicy folks, and folks who have some kind of sexuality related concern, whether that's identity or pleasure, or relationships, or trauma, all those things within under that umbrella.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Clearly, you can see why we were very excited to have Shanae on our team. They're awesome and bring really cool stuff to our office and we're looking forward to seeing everything that they're going to be doing with all that knowledge they have. So I know you mentioned that this is the longest you've been back in Colorado since undergrad. Do you mind sharing a little bit more about like your educational background and career background? I know you shared a little bit in your intro, but anything else you'd like to share with us?

Shanae Adams:

Yeah, sure. So I did my first year of undergrad at Florida A&M University, HBCU stand up, out of state tuition for fam that was very expensive. So I ended up getting a scholarship to the University of Missouri. And that's where I graduated. My undergraduate degree is in Interdisciplinary Studies, primarily because I got sick and I was I wanted to leave. So my academic advisor put some things together. And that's what my degree is in interdisciplinary studies with a minor in social justice and multicultural studies. My master's degree is in clinical counseling from Adam State University, which is here in Alamosa. And I am a certified sex therapist through a sect so the American Association of sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, and I'm currently getting my doctorate in clinical sexology at modern sex therapy Institute in Palm Springs, Florida.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Awesome. Yeah. And you mentioned that you've been doing prevention education like sex ed for 20 plus years. What got you interested in getting into sex education and prevention work?

Shanae Adams:

For sure. So when I was like in middle school, I used to watch a lot of Talk Sex with Sue Johansson, she was definitely my first I guess, my first mentor, my first sexuality education mentor, and she died last month, two months ago, in June since so, sad day, but appreciate everything that she has done. She was definitely the first example that I saw of human sexuality as like a profession. And so in watching her show, I wanted to have a show. And then when I got to undergrad at the University of Missouri, I joined a peer education program, which taught us human sexuality education and classroom management, how to submit a workshop, all of that. And it was one of the most requested peer educators on my campus. And so that really, like established that this is a career it could be a career. After I graduated, I was Peace Corps volunteer in Rwanda. I was in the health cohort, the sixth cohort to go back since the genocide. And so that was then an experience that's cute on my resume. And then when I got back from Rwanda, I worked for Planned Parenthood for a couple years. And in doing that, I kind of figured out that I could do this myself. So I started my own education and consultation business, and that's where I've been ever since.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Again, clearly, y'all see why we hired them. They are super cool. They've done a lot of cool stuff. And with all the cool things you've done, what was it about the Phoenix Center when you saw that we had that part time position open that you were like, I would like to join them like they seem like somewhere where I want to work.

Shanae Adams:

for the PCA since about 2016. And y'all tend to bring me back every year, except then or since then, in, in actuality, I have a lot of goals that I needed to hit. And you know, in trying to get my doctorate, that's a lot of my brain capacity. So I found myself having to turn down clients or turn down education opportunities, where I will have to create something myself just because I didn't have the brain capacity to. And then also knowing that I didn't want anything full time because I still needed to be able to write and still do the education and programming that I want to do instead of doing things to turn a certain amount of money. So seeing that the PCA was hiring, I think the first thing that clicked for me was that I've already worked here. So that would be a solid enough fit. And then the hours really fit with letting my brain have more capacity to finish my doctoral program for sure. And then, you know, just as a sexuality education educator IPV is underneath that banner of sexuality education, so it was a lot of things in my wheelhouse. So it worked out really well to find a position where I already had a lot of skills for that I didn't have to stress my brain out more than I was already doing, and then gave me the opportunity to adult in a way that I needed to and then also finish my dissertation because I really want to be done with that.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Definitely, how far along are you?

Shanae Adams:

Um, so I'm ABD right now, I've done everything that I need for my doctorate, except finished writing my paper, which has been an experience, but I have a lot of mentors and a lot of support who have been shaping my perspective, which has allowed me to approach it a different way. So I think, yeah, as of the meeting that I had two weeks ago, it's definitely going a lot better than it was before. But I would really like to graduate in May. So we're trying to lay it out.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Yeah. How do you, like, manage being a PhD student working part time having your own businesses? Like how do you make sure your time is structured so that you have time for yourself, but you're also staying productive in the things you need to be productive in?

Shanae Adams:

There's an app for that there are several that actually, I think that I might - so I have ADHD, and my ADHD, if left to its own devices will make me do nothing. So having things to do, or at least building a schedule around other responsibilities, yeah, tends to be the most helpful. So I have lots of scheduling lots of apps, my wife is also very helpful. And I'm also a Taurus, so I will sleep. And so I need to like, accommodate that. Yeah, come at the fact that my body wants to rest and wants to have nothing to do. So I need to make sure that there are time and opportunities for that, or else that is the only thing that I

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

I hear that. Yeah. And kind of veering away from that a little bit. Since you'll be here at the PCA a couple of times a week. What are you looking forward to doing? Or is there anything you've seen so far in being here like, Oh, y'all are not you don't have this, I could bring this and like make things really fun or more interesting about a certain topic?

Shanae Adams:

Yeah, I think that we do, or at least like since I've been here, we do a lot of tabling, which I think is really helpful for getting information out and making sure that we kind of have a position on campus. But I always think it's really fun to host events that draw people in so that way, we don't have to stop them awkwardly on their commute from wherever they're going. So I'd like to definitely see more opportunities for people to come to us than us having to like, jump in people's paths on their way to other things, for sure.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Definitely. Awesome. Yeah, I agree. I'm sure we can come up with some really cool event ideas throughout the year.

Shanae Adams:

Yeah. And then you know, using media, so using whatever's kind of out and about as a talking point, so whether that's like media viewing and then having like a talkback afterwards, those are typically really helpful. And then they make a lasting impression on people's minds for sure.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

That's so true. Yeah, I find like the podcast where we do like the media literacy stuff, those are some of our most consumed ones because you know, it's happening right now. And then we're having a conversation about that in the moment while it's still really popular, and out in the world.

Shanae Adams:

Yeah, so I think that'll be really good especially, like even with like the Barbie movie out right now let's talk about gender and norms and the way that systems impact our perspective, because the Barbie movies about existential ism. I don't know why people don't know that. But that is what the movie

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

That's such a good point.

Shanae Adams:

It's an existential movie it's not Just about Barbie.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

So there's another step. Yeah, yes. Yeah.

Shanae Adams:

Right. But then critical thinking is also a skill that is lacking in our society.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

So, yes. Right, so and what do you enjoy doing in your free time when you aren't working and working on a PhD and working on your brand?

Shanae Adams:

Um, I like to sleep sleeping as well. I prioritize my sleep. I have a very expensive mattress because I like to sleep. But when I'm not sleeping, I do like I play a lot of video games. I probably probably play more video games and watch more TV than I should. But I quite enjoy video games. And I really like TV and movies. So that's usually well,

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

What's your favorite video game to play right now?

Shanae Adams:

Right now I'm playing Miles Morales, Spider Man and Rise of the Tomb Raider. So I alternate when I get stuck on one than I just go to the other. So I get stuck.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Are you a PC user or console user?

Shanae Adams:

I have a PlayStation I have a PS4. And like my mom and my brother wanted to give me PS5 last Christmas. And I was like Don't do that. I want to a P - I want a PS5 for my doctoral graduation gift. That's what -

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

That's a great goal!

Shanae Adams:

Like I've worked for that PS5. Well, and then like, I don't play my ps4 as much as I would like. Yeah, I think that I do things more than I should. But I definitely don't do them as much as I would like. Yeah, so I didn't want to get the PS% because I don't want to like I've had my PS4 for years now. I've games that I go back to like I play a lot of Assassin's Creed. Yeah, and I'll just get on my ship and just say, yeah, if I if I if my brain is stuck, or if I, if I'm too tired to sleep, because that's the thing that happens. I'll just get on my ship and I'll sail and I'll go dolphin watching. I can't do that at if I have a PS5. So -

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Right

Shanae Adams:

- after I finished doing all of the other things that I have to do

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Nice. That's awesome. How about your favorite movie or TV show right now? What do you recommend?

Shanae Adams:

I have I have my top five and they rotate depending on what's going on in my life. So in no particular order, my top five favorite movies are the Count of Monte Cristo, Sleepy Hollow Johnny Depp Sleepy Hollow, Sparkle, the original Sparkle, that new remake Django Django and I'm blanking on my fifth one. ... Top four those good right now.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Awesome.

Shanae Adams:

Yeah.But out right now, Talk To Me, was really good. Like for - Yeah, it was so good. Yeah. And I haven't seen it yet. For me, my wife. I want to go see it this weekend. They don't come with me. I'm gonna go see it this weekend. I want to see the new Insidious because the insidious franchise As you should.-

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

It was really good, The Red Door. Yeah, that was really good. I screamed in the movie theater. Yeah,

Shanae Adams:

That's what we're here for.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Yes. Yeah.

Shanae Adams:

Yeah. But talk to me was was really good

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

That looks so good. A 24 movies are always the best movies Me to whenever it's an A24 movie. I'm like, I have to go.

Shanae Adams:

I don't know.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

It's gonna be good.

Shanae Adams:

I'm gonna go see it

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Exactly.

Shanae Adams:

And they'd be only a production company who has met the demands of the actors and the writers. They're the only ones who can work right now. Yes, A24. It was like, Sure we can do that. So

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Right.

Shanae Adams:

A24 definitely where it's at.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

So if you need another reason to support them, there's one right there.

Shanae Adams:

Yeah, yes, it can be done. They're not asking for a lot. They're not asking that lucky. They're not asking for enough. But it's definitely not a lot

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Because they're still doing the strikes right now.

Shanae Adams:

Oh, yeah. They're still striking

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Which is just wild. It's been weeks months.

Shanae Adams:

It's been like three months that the actors have been on strike. I think - No, three months the writers have been on strike. I think the actors have been on strike. And a few weeks and the stunts people are now on

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Yeah strike. And the production assistants are thinking about going on strike. Yeah. It's wild that they're willing to let it go - go out so long, but you know what they got to do what they got to do to get what they deserve

Shanae Adams:

I think that a lot of the production companies are surprised that the society at large are very much behind the writers and the actors.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Yeah,

Shanae Adams:

They put out a lot of things where it's like, I know like when Euphoria got postponed, and HBO was like, Darn, Euphoria, season three is pushed back.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Yeah

Shanae Adams:

That sucks. And we were like, You should just pay the writers I think that they all expect us to be like those damn writers, but we're like no, like

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

We actually support them. Exactly.

Shanae Adams:

As much as I want to see Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon. I'll wait.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Yes, exactly. Yeah, yeah, like I'm a Stranger Things fan. I was like I will wait to like everyone gets paid what they deserve and they get treated how they deserve. We can be patient

Shanae Adams:

We can. Yes. They were mad at you.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Exactly. Like take after A24 they're still getting their money because they -

Shanae Adams:

are still working. They just started a bunch of new projects A24 bit because they were like cool, like production field right now. So

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

yeah, it works. So Talk to Me recommended

Shanae Adams:

Yeah, awesome talk to me was so good.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

It looks so good

Shanae Adams:

Insidious looks like it's gonna be really good. I love the Insidious Franchise.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Same. I'm a horror fan.

Shanae Adams:

Oh I love horroe too

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

What's your favorite horror now that we've digress

Shanae Adams:

A movie, so I like I like comedic horror. So like Evil Dead is the scariest funniest movie I've ever seen. I love people that I like Drag Me To Hell Drag Me To Hell. It was really good

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

I haven't seen that in so long.

Shanae Adams:

It's very campy, so yeah Drag Me To Hell is good. The Insidious franchises good. I like a Haunting in Connecticut. Like if you're gonna call my pure horror, and like classic horror, like your Amityville Horror.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Oh, yeah.

Shanae Adams:

I like Jason Jason Vorhees. So all the Friday Yeah. And my wife like Scream so we

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Oh, yeah,

Shanae Adams:

a lot of Scream.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

I've heard the recent one was really good.

Shanae Adams:

The recent one does look good. That's also on our list of things to see.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Nice,

Shanae Adams:

So very busy this. But yeah, Freddy Krueger. Oh, Freddy Krueger, and Hell Raiser. Yeah. And then vampires. Vampires are my thing. So you're in all of the Ann Rice, all the Ann Rice is really legit, for sure.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Awesome. Love to learn that all about you. And you are into theater as well. Right?

Shanae Adams:

Yes.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

What are you like about theater? What are some of your favorite productions you've been a part of? Sure. So I am an actor. And I'm also an intimacy coordinator. So I coordinate spicy scenes on film and on stage. So it's my favorite things that I've been in. The last show that I was in was One Way Back Day, which is based on folklore from the Gullah Islands and the people of Gullah culture. So a lot of like, they're creatures of myth and legend, a bunch of actors got together and smashed a bunch of things into one story or into one production. So that was a good show. That was this year, I try to be in at least one show a year if my schedule will allow but back at like the height of my theater career, I would be in like, shows back to back to back. Right, but one show a year works. I did the intimacy coordination for Tony Stone a few months ago, so that was good. I recently just directed a stage reading of a show Happy to be Nappy. And so that was I've done a lot of theater this year, more than I thought that was good. So those have been definitely my favorite ones to be in. But some of my favorite shows are Porgy and Bess, like Memphis, Hilton's problematic, but I do have it memorized. Yeah.

Shanae Adams:

And I wrote a parody of it that we did last year at Clocktower. So that was really fun. And then we just saw the ballet a few months ago, so Bram Stoker's Dracula is a good ballet Swan Lake is coming. That's a good ballet. Cinderella's good ballet, that and then like opera. We've seen I've seen a lot of opera. So Carmen very classic. Carmen has been good. Don Juan was good. It was good. Yeah. I'm very excited for we have two tickets to Beetlejuice in next.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

That will be cool. Perfect timing to Because it's fall. Yeah, yeah.

Shanae Adams:

Right. And they're only here for a short amount of time. So we were really lucky to grab our tickets really fast. But I feel like Time is moving so fast right now. This is in like, two weeks or so. Or at least.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Oh my god. Yeah. How? Just how. Awesome. And then also another update. You recently saw the Queen Bee Beyonce in concert over the weekend.

Shanae Adams:

Yeah.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

What was that like for those of us who may never see her, but want to

Shanae Adams:

You've got to make it. Like I'm making so many bad adult decisions right now. And I didn't. I don't apologize for it. So I saw Beyonce in Vegas. And it was an amazing show. Me and my friend had so much fun while we were there. It was really good show. We went to the Saturday show. And Sunday show, I'm a little salty right now, Sunday show she wore cuter outfits. Like the videos I saw. She was being like way more extra. But her mom was there and there was a bunch of like celebrities in the audience, which is like I was like so lit that night.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Yeah.

Shanae Adams:

But I'm important to so I deserve those cute outfits. But I am going to see her again with my friends in Kansas City. And there's only one show in Kansas City. Oh, So she better bring it

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

All out. Yes Yeah, make it memorable.

Shanae Adams:

Yeah, but it was amazing. Like two and a half hours. Nonstop on 100

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Really?

Shanae Adams:

The whole show

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

No break?

Shanae Adams:

No.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Oh my gosh.

Shanae Adams:

I mean, there's like in there's like intermissions when like everybody goes and like costume changes.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Yeah.

Shanae Adams:

And that's like, there's probably like seven acts, I would say, with like an intermission between each act. And there might have even been more than that. Because it was it was like a two and a half hour show. But yes, she was zero to 100 the whole show and there were like, times when like the audience I remember I remember like sitting at stage, I'd be like, girls still. Because

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

I was just going to say where's the energy,

Shanae Adams:

She got it. Not from me. Because they were times there like a few times you my friend sat down. We had our fans were fanning ourselves off. And I was like, I'm tired and hot. I know she tired. It's just been like half the show in front of a fan. So she's planned that out. Yeah, but 100 non stop the whole business for herself.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Of course, she's Beyonce.

Shanae Adams:

My friend asked who's the opening, I was like Beyonce.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Who else

Shanae Adams:

Beyonce opens for Beyonce. Blu was there and she killed it.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Doing so well with like, the dancing like, oh my god

Shanae Adams:

With her summer internship. Yes. Summer Internship. But she um, she's gotten like a promotion because before she only had one song. Now she's got like, four that she's earned before she goes off stage. So blew out there leading confident and comfortable, but also on 100. That's good time.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

I just know what they're drinking or what they're taken because I need that energy in my life.

Shanae Adams:

Yeah, yes. Zero to 100 the whole show. Like from the time she started to the time that she was lifted up into the air to go say goodbye to everybody. Oh, yeah, that's how she said. Yeah, she flew around, at least everybody on the floor. She hung around them. And then we were like, up in the in the 300 section.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Uh huh.

Shanae Adams:

So we could see her too. We're like, wow,

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

That is so cool.

Shanae Adams:

She gets in. She gets in the sky on the horse. And then she gets in the sky by herself.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Is it a real horse?

Shanae Adams:

Is not a real horse.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Oh Okay.

Shanae Adams:

It's just a little silver, little silver horse.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Oh, okay.

Shanae Adams:

Yeah, it reminded me of Lucifer he's silver.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Yeah.

Shanae Adams:

Yeah, that was good show.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

That is awesome.

Shanae Adams:

Good show.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

That sounds so memorable.

Shanae Adams:

Me, my friend had so much fun. We were a little solder some people around us who like didn't know the words to the song. So I was like, why are you here?

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

It feels disrespect.

Shanae Adams:

It wasn't. And then like I saw a picture on Facebook and people like asleep in the audience. And I was like, why are you here? Why are you here and I even saw TikTok of some people who were like on the floor like in club Renaissance. Who were like when you don't know the word so Beyonce song. It was like classic Beyonce. I think it was like One plus One. And I care. And I was like you don't know. Like you don't know Four which is

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

why you are you here

Shanae Adams:

The best album. Yes.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Yeah, like the audacity.

Shanae Adams:

It was. And then the people who like weren't dressed properly because she told us what to wear.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Yes.

Shanae Adams:

Why are children dressed the way she told us to dress? How did she take out a dress she tells the wear silver she said she wanted to see little disco balls, out in the audience. And so I already passed the assignment before she signed it. She did assign it. I don't know why people didn't understand the assignment. While there was a good time that is so there's not a battle. There are bad seats. But there's not a bad seat in the house.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

When it's Beyonce. Like all the seats are good.

Shanae Adams:

All seats are good seats, but some seats are better.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Fair. And you're also like a traveler, right? Not just with the US but internationally. What are some of your favorite places that you've traveled?

Shanae Adams:

Um, I was in Japan for my birthday. And we went to the Nintendo World out there. So that was really fun. It rained while we were there. I didn't care. Yeah.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Japan amazing.

Shanae Adams:

We saw Peach. And we were in Browsers Castle.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Also cool.

Shanae Adams:

Yeah. And I have Peach and Bowser theory.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Oh.

Shanae Adams:

But we were in Japan for my birthday. So that was fun. We did Paris last year.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Oh, wow.

Shanae Adams:

We were in Nice. And then we went to Spain. And that was a lot of fun. And then I've hit up a good portion of the Caribbean and I'm actually going to South Africa next month. So

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

that was awesome. What are some like travel tips you have for folks who like they want to travel internationally but like they don't know maybe the first step or what's important to bring up people forget

Shanae Adams:

Get a passport. Get a passport especially like people of color. You need a passport. You need to be able to leave this country whatever you want because this country is a hot mess.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

I hear that

Shanae Adams:

And to be be able to get up and go. So go get your passport. And also I just found out that like if you get Medicaid or WIC or food stamps or something you can get a free passport.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Really

Shanae Adams:

Yeah So go get your passport that everyone everyone needs passport, but people of color, particularly like queer people of color, trans women of color. You need to be able to leave this country whenever you want. Yeah, go get a passport.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

That's so real.

Shanae Adams:

Yeah. And then figure out what what it is that you like to do. I've seen a lot of those TikToks, where it's like you're either like a vacationer or like a, like, do you want to do experiences? Or do you want to like hang out at the resort? Yeah, then you can like decide what you want to do. From there. A lot of the solo trips that I go on, because my last solo trip, I went to Amsterdam by myself went to Toronto by myself. I went to Mexico by myself, offseason travel saves you a lot a lot of money. So I'm doing that is good. Man, the world is the world like there's so much more than just wherever you are. And the more you travel, the smaller the world gets. That's it? Yeah. I think at least so we're doing South Africa and in South Africa in September, it just decided I want to go to Brazil for my birthday. So I'm going to try plan that and then my wife has Irish lineage. So we're going to try to do Ireland for St. Patrick's Day. So we're gonna try to figure that out. But that's like, trips back to back, but you know, I'm making bad decisions.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

But you're like, keep making really cool memory.

Shanae Adams:

Yeah.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

So yeah. And then I just have a couple of fun questions to wrap up our conversation together and get to know you. So the first question I have as a fun question, if you had only experienced one season for the rest of your life, so spring, summer, fall or winter, what season would you want to experience and why?

Shanae Adams:

That's a hard question. Because it depends on where I am.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Okay, yeah,

Shanae Adams:

Where I am in the world. Um, so if I've be in Colorado, then I like fall, like fall because I like to see the leaves change colors. I also really like the fashion. Yeah, so fall fashion is my favorite. But if I'm in like, one of my second homes like Atlanta, or New Orleans, or DC, spent a lot of time in Atlanta, New Orleans and Dc. Then I really like like, spring, because that's always a really good time, buddy. Mardi Gras in spring.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Yeah.

Shanae Adams:

So that's a really good time. And that's when a lot of the seafood is reproducing. So there's a lot more fish season.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Yeah.

Shanae Adams:

There's like, if you want them like big and juicy, you do have to wait for fall. But if you want a lot of them spring, it's like the ones who don't get eaten in spring are the ones who are big and juicy. And so that's fun. If I'm in international like Costa Rica is one of my favorite places. Costa Rica is good all year, year round. There's no

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Oh, wow. I bet I that's nice

Shanae Adams:

They have mountains and they have beaches. So you move around the country.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Yeah.

Shanae Adams:

And you get different seasons as opposed to changing Well, yeah. So that's good. And then like if I'm on like, on a Caribbean island, because I'm a pirate at heart. I like I kind of like the rainy season, but the rainy season is good. Just like hanging out. Yeah. If you're gonna be active and do stuff and then like carnival, which is like summer, your spring summer season.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Awesome. Didn't even think about like where the location was. I love that. That's awesome. And DC is that like when the cherry blossoms start to bloom in the spring?

Shanae Adams:

Yeah,cherry blossoms in the spring in DC is always a lot of fun. And then even like Europe, Amsterdam in the spring 60. The tulips always fun. France in the spring for the lavender fields. That's always really fun. So you just kind of like you've chased the flowers.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

That's awesome. And then what was your favorite cartoon growing up?

Shanae Adams:

Well, it's immediately coming to my mind is Danny Phantom.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

He was amazing.

Shanae Adams:

I likes Danny Phantom Chalk Zone. A lot of Chalk Zone.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Oh my god. Yeah. My memories.

Shanae Adams:

I'm gonna go like the Powerpuff Girls like Powerpuff. Girls.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

I still watch Powerpuff Girls.

Shanae Adams:

So I will go with those

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Awesome. Those are great cartoons.

Shanae Adams:

Yeah.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

And then the last question I have is one I always ask because I'm biased. I want to see like what your answer would be. So have you seen The Nightmare Before Christmas

Shanae Adams:

Several times.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Love. Is The Nightmare Before Christmas, a Halloween movie or Christmas movie?

Shanae Adams:

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a fall movie because it makes sense. September to December no matter if you watch it. Last fall movie, and you can watch it for Thanksgiving. You could watch it. You could watch it for Christmas. It makes sense. All fall.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Perfect answer.Right. Just fun to see. Awesome. And is there anything else that you would like to share with our listeners that you didn't have a chance to share?

Shanae Adams:

Um, no, not so much. I think that there's a lot about me during this time So yeah, that was cool.

Racheal Reed-Maloney:

Awesome. Well, thank you for Shanae for taking time out of your busy day today, you're back to back. So thank you for doing this with me and allowing our listeners to get to know you a little better. You will definitely be seeing Shanae at events, tablings and presentations so keep an eye out for them if you want to talk with them more about the really cool things that they do. If you've happened to hear something today that has reminded you about a personal experience you have had with interpersonal violence or a loved one's experience with interpersonal violence, please contact our 24/7 helpline number at 303-556-2255. The Phoenix Center is here to support you as you process your or your loved ones experience with interpersonal violence. If you aren't already following us at our Instagram account, you can follow us @phoenixcenter so you can stay up to date with all the really cool things we're gonna be having going on for the fall semester. My name is Racheal Reed-Maloney and thank you for listening. I look forward to learning with you next time.