In this episode of The Circle Podcast, we’re joined by Jonathan Scott—also known as Wild Blue Yonder and Esther the Village Mermaid—for a deeply moving conversation about queer resilience, the Radical Fairy movement, and the healing power of gathering in circle.
A longtime community organizer and founder of the Victory Programs, Jonathan shares his lived experience from the height of the AIDS epidemic, when queer communities, abandoned by institutions, created sacred spaces for care, grief, breath, and belonging. From heart circles in treatment centers to radical fairy sanctuaries, he reminds us that intimacy, connection, and breath can be medicine—especially when systems fail.
We explore:
✨ The birth of “circles of care” during the AIDS crisis
✨ What the Radical Fairy movement teaches about subject-to-subject connection
✨ How breathwork and storytelling offer deep healing
✨ The importance of queer spaces beyond clubs and apps
✨ Intimacy without performance—and the freedom of just being
Whether you lived through the epidemic or are learning this history for the first time, this episode offers essential wisdom for queer healing, spiritual embodiment, and collective care.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
A longtime community organizer and founder of the Victory Programs, Jonathan shares his lived experience from the height of the AIDS epidemic, when queer communities, abandoned by institutions, created sacred spaces for care, grief, breath, and belonging. From heart circles in treatment centers to radical fairy sanctuaries, he reminds us that intimacy, connection, and breath can be medicine—especially when systems fail.
We explore:
✨ The birth of “circles of care” during the AIDS crisis
✨ What the Radical Fairy movement teaches about subject-to-subject connection
✨ How breathwork and storytelling offer deep healing
✨ The importance of queer spaces beyond clubs and apps
✨ Intimacy without performance—and the freedom of just being
Whether you lived through the epidemic or are learning this history for the first time, this episode offers essential wisdom for queer healing, spiritual embodiment, and collective care.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:23 Meet Jonathan Scott and Esther, the Village Mermaid
01:18 Circles of Care During the AIDS Epidemic
04:51 The Power of Heart Circles
08:33 Living Through Two Pandemics
15:51 Radical Fairies and Heart Circles
21:55 The Importance of Unapologetic Expression
28:11 Navigating Expectations in Queer Spaces
29:13 The Power of Intentional Gatherings
32:52 Creating Safe and Intimate Spaces
34:16 The Importance of Compassion and Connection
37:22 The Role of Rituals and Ceremonies
45:21 Honoring the Past and Building the Future
49:16 Concluding Reflections and Gratitude
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