Best Jessica Reidy and Paulina Verminski Podcasts (2025)

1
Welcome to Romanistan Festival NOLA recap teaser 8:24

18d ago8:24

8:24

Welcome to our teaser for our first live show recording, and a recap! We hosted our first Welcome to Romanistan Festival in New Orleans, featuring six events that brought together incredible queer and trans Romani performers from across the country. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME! The festival showcased Romani culture through academic panels, live …

1
Orhan Tahir on Pariahs, Outcasts, and Political Science 1:16:12

23d ago1:16:12

1:16:12

Orhan Tahir is a Romani lawyer, scholar and journalist, originally from Bulgaria, who has lived in Western Europe for the past 10 years. He is currently engaged as a PhD researcher in Political Science at the Heidelberg University in Germany. Orhan's focus is on the construction of "Gypsies" as an outcast "Pariah people" in European imagination in …

1
Chronic Pain and Healing with Klaudia Farkas of Romani Roots 1:09:18

2M ago1:09:18

1:09:18

Klaudia Farkas is a Romani woman, Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) since 2010, a self-taught herbalist since 2014, and an esthetician since 2020. She is the founder and owner of Romani Roots and Romani Roots Skincare and Herbal Remedies, based in the heart of Noe Valley, San Francisco. With a passion for holistic wellness, Klaudia blends her extensi…

1
Sharon Svec on "Seeking Warmth," an art exhibit featuring Ceija Stojka and Daniel Baker 56:57

2M ago56:57

56:57

"Seeking Warmth," an art exhibit curated by artist Sharon Svec, held at Art At The Cave in Vancouver, WA running March 4-29, 2025, aims to explore humanity's need for emotional and physical warmth, especially during times of extreme circumstances such as those caused by genocide, war, oppression and neglect. Ceija Stojka (1933-2013) was a child sur…

1
Amaro Voice Crossover with Sejnur Memisi 41:05

3M ago41:05

41:05

Sejnur Memisi is a journalist & Roma activist from Germany. He is originally from Kosovo, and escaped 1999 with his family to Germany because of the Kosovo war. He studied Media Management and since April 2020 has produced Podcasts about Sinti & Roma. He began the podcast (Sinti Roma News, formerly RYMEcast) in the German language. 3 of his German …

1
Madeline Potter on Nosferatu and Romani Representation in Gothic Literature 1:03:09

4M ago1:03:09

1:03:09

In this episode, we dive into Romani representation in Robert Eggers' Nosferatu with Madeline Potter, Romani scholar of 19th century Gothic literature! We also get into vampire lore, Romani folklore, mulo, strigoi, and Romani tropes in Gothic literature and media. Madeline Potter is a research and teaching fellow at the University of Edinburgh, in …

1
Gilda Horvath, aka Nancy Black: Journalist, Rapper, and Activist 44:34

4M ago44:34

44:34

Nancy Black is the alter ego of the journalist and activist Gilda-Nancy Horvath, a Romni from Vienna, Austria. She writes poems in Romanes, English and German which are sometimes translated to music, mainly rap music. Her rap-poem "Trushula" (Crosses) states clearly that the danger of dark history repeating is always present - and that even people …

1
Tarot reading for 2025! 11:22

4M ago11:22

11:22

Welcome to season 5! This mini-episode starts with a tarot reading for the year ahead. There’s personal growth and healing in 2025 with the Hermit and the Ace of Cups. Listeners are encouraged to embrace introspection, nurture emotional well-being, and prioritize love in their lives and communities. • Time for reflection and introspection inspired …

1
Rowena Marin on Google Translate and the Romani Language 37:41

5M ago37:41

37:41

This episode explores the inclusion of the Romani language on Google Translate, featuring Rowena Marin's insights on the intersection of technology and culture. We discuss the journey from grassroots initiatives to digital recognition, the complexities of language preservation, and the opportunities technology can create for the Romani community. •…

1
Good Morning, Romanistan 9: Water Always Wanders and Agatha All Along 1:12:10

6M ago1:12:10

1:12:10

We spoke with Ylva Mara Radziszewski about Water Always Wanders, a multimedia theatre production of queer and trans Romani artists at the Mudlark Theatre in New Orleans, Louisiana December 6th & 7th from 6:30-9:00 pm cst. Our book, Secrets of Romani Fortune Telling will be for sale along with Loly scarves, and other vendors. This performance will a…

1
Good Morning Romanistan 8: Book tour, ghost stories, and a chat with Robin Badaire about Agatha All Along 1:07:04

7M ago1:07:04

1:07:04

What if spirits could communicate through a simple hair comb? And what role do children play in spiritual practices? Join us as we uncover these mysteries and more, during our vibrant journey on the Good Morning Romanistan book tour. From Portland to Portsmouth, we’ve been embraced by amazing communities and experienced transformative events like o…

1
Andra Zlătescu on music and witchcraft 51:07

7M ago51:07

51:07

Andra Zlătescu is a musician, performer, and illustrator, who performs as part of the band Willow Switch, Spindle Collective, and as a solo performer. Andra plays the singing saw (a carpentry saw played with a violin bow that evokes the haunting wail of the wind in the trees), banjo, guitar, and sings. Andra is passionate about creation that serves…

1
Angeliska Polacheck: Sister Temperance Tarot 44:10

7M ago44:10

44:10

Angeliska Polacheck (they/she) is an Austin, Texas based writer, healer, and professional tarot reader. Devoted to helping seekers find their path, they utilize the tarot in a compassionate and trauma-informed combination of visionary mystic counseling and energy work. Angeliska has been working with the tarot for over 30 years now, and has been re…

1
April Wall of Namaste Magical 53:03

7M ago53:03

53:03

April Wall is an author and international psychic medium with twenty years of experience helping clients sort through life’s ups and downs. A proud Romany, she carries on the traditions started by the strong women in her family, especially her great-grandmother, great aunt, and granny, or as she refers to them, April’s Angels. Find her online at na…

1
Community and Connection Tarot with Logan Dulski 44:45

8M ago44:45

44:45

On this episode of Romanistan, we introduce a non-Roma international relations guest, , Logan Dulski, and the inclusive tarot deck they created, the Community and Connection Pocket Tarot Deck. We also hear from Romani artist contributors, Lane Friend, Robin Badaire, and Aurora Luna (aka Baby Recklesss). Logan Dulski (they/she) is a queer multidisci…

1
Secrets of Romani Fortune Telling Preview! 25:42

9M ago25:42

25:42

What hidden wisdom lies within the centuries-old practice of Romani fortune telling? Join us as Paulina and Jez preview their debut book, Secrets of Romani Fortune Telling. In this book, they not only share the spiritual techniques and business insights of fortune telling but also unravel the cultural significance and personal stories steeped in Ro…

1
Ion Zanca and Romani: the Untold Story 39:22

9M ago39:22

39:22

We had such a beautiful interview with Ion Zanca, interwoven with music from his new album, ROMANI: The Untold Story. Ion Zanca is the founder of the Dallas String Quartet, a Billboard-charting Classical Crossover ensemble with over 700 million streams on streaming platforms. They have performed for multiple sitting U.S. Presidents, with superstars…

1
Good Morning, Romanistan 7: We Wrote a Book! 28:43

10M ago28:43

28:43

Hello and welcome to Romanistan! We’re off schedule but doing our best! We have some current event updates and a short interview on the book we wrote, Secrets of Romani Fortune Telling, available for preorder now. Current events: https://www.errc.org/news/hungarian-governments-new-decree-threatens-ukrainian-romani-refugees https://www.leparisien.fr…

1
Ceija Stojka Exhibition 48:08

11M ago48:08

48:08

We interviewed allies Lorely French and Carina Kurta who are experts on artist, writer, activist, and Holocaust survivor, Ceija Stojka. In an effort to preserve and share her work, there will be an exhibit of Ceija Stojka's artworks in conjunction with the events that are going on for the Culture Capital of Europe 2024 in the Salzkammergut. The exh…

1
Ruth Sullivan and Traveller Pride 47:29

11M ago47:29

47:29

Welcome to our second pride month interview! Ruth Sullivan is a director of Traveller Pride, a UK based organisation that brings together Traveller people from the various UK communities to celebrate every aspect of our identities. Ruth is Queer and from a mixed Romany and Gorger family. She discovered her Romany ethnicity in her teens when her Gra…

1
Pride, adoption, & an interest in criminal psychology with Nico 29:01

11M ago29:01

29:01

Happy Pride! Happy Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month! We were delighted to start off the season by chatting to Nico! Nico is a queer, disabled Romani from the UK who has lived across multiple continents and is currently based on the southeast coast of England. They’re passionate about human rights and equality, and have a lifelong interest in cr…

1
Honoring Romani Resistance Day and Raymond Gurême 11:50

1y ago11:50

11:50

We have a minisode honoring Romani Resistance Day, May 16th, and the resistance fighter Raymond Gurême. Resources: https://www.roma-sinti-holocaust-memorial-day.eu/history/raymond-gureme/ https://eriac.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/RAYMOND-GUREME-new.pdf https://www.romarchive.eu/en/voices-of-the-victims/genocide-holocaust-porajmos-samudaripen/ Ro…

1
Musician Luiee Bloo 38:06

1y ago38:06

38:06

Known for their innovative approach to progressive music, Luiee Bloo (they/him) is a multi-instrumentalist, independent solo artist, producer, and audio engineer from the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, CA. Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of musical styles and influences, Luiee's sound is a captivating fusion of world rhythms, intricat…

1
World Roma Federation: International Roma Day on April 8th 47:47

1y ago47:47

47:47

Enjoy this interview with Deny Dobobrov and Janos Sztojka of World Roma Federation! WRF is hosting a flag raising ceremony in Chicago on April 8th for International Roma Day. To honor and share their work, we talked to them about their organization’s beginnings, upcoming events, and their vision for the future. Follow, support, & join World Roma Fe…

1
Good Morning Romanistan 6: A better or worse world 33:27

1y ago33:27

33:27

Our book Secrets of Romani Fortune Telling is available for preorder! You can order from major booksellers or request that your local bookstores and library carry it when it's released October 1st, 2024. Our interview on dealing with the haters in Bold Journey. Current Events: Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology of Budapest Continue Th…

1
Robin Badaire, The Scarlet Witch, and Romani comic book characters 1:00:27

1+ y ago1:00:27

1:00:27

Welcome to season 4, our 4 year anniversary, and Valentine's Day! We're celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Scarlet Witch by talking with Robin Badaire about Romani comic book character representation in Marvel and DC! Robin Badaire is a writer and an artist of Cale Romani descent from Boston, Massachusetts. As an avid reader of comic books and…

1
Holidaze 35:19

1+ y ago35:19

35:19

Welcome to our holidaze episode, featuring a special short story “Black Friday” by Caren Gussoff Sumption. We also recommend Jewish Voice for Peace for more information on how to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/ Happy holidays to everyone! Check out Jez’s tarot reading in Bustle on navigating the holidays, and listen…

1
Romanistan Hiatus! 1:39

1+ y ago1:39

1:39

We’re writing a book! So we’re going on a little hiatus through November so we can make our deadline. Our book will be on Romani fortune telling and will be published by Weiser Books October 2024. In the meantime, catch up on our past 3 seasons. We’ll be back in December. ❄️By Jessica Reidy / Jezmina Von Thiele and Paulina Stevens

1
Halloween Creature Feature Listener Stories 36:00

1+ y ago36:00

36:00

Welcome to our spooky listener stories episode! The Creature Feature! This episode is brought to you by Paulina, and our editor, Cherub! Jez couldn’t make this recording, so it gives you a wonderful opportunity to get to know Cherub a little better. She is our podcast Lord and Savior, after all. 👼🏻 Be chilled by the terrifying tales our listeners s…

1
Joanna Talewicz and Infamy 1:27:02

1+ y ago1:27:02

1:27:02

We spoke with Joanna Talewicz about the Netflix Poland show Infamy (Infamia), on which she was an advisor. It was a fascinating conversation about navigating media representation, behind the scenes with other Roma involved in the series, activism, and more! Read our review of Infamy here! Joanna Talewicz, PhD, is co-founder and president of the Fou…

1
Katelan Foisy: Artist and Witch 1:10:33

1+ y ago1:10:33

1:10:33

We had such a magical time talking to Katelan Foisy, and our musician Viktor Pachas took over for Paulina in a pinch! We hope you enjoy this chat on art, magic, and spooky stories! Katelan V. Foisy is a visual artist, and writer who specializes in vintage style mixed media art and photography. Her art is featured on The Smashing Pumpkins Tours such…

1
Spooky Stories x O Verda Darano Crossover! 43:35

1+ y ago43:35

43:35

O Verda Darano takes over Romanistan! We talk with Pierce & Raquel Horvath, brother & sister duo of Dead Scared Entertainment, and the Romani storytelling podcast O Verda Darano. Raquel & Pierce tell some of their favorite scary stories to kick off spooky season with us, and be sure to catch season 3 of O Verda Darano too. We’ll be popping up in on…

1
Toby Gorniak, Infamy, and Street Factory 46:11

1+ y ago46:11

46:11

We got to interview Toby G about the Netflix series Infamy, and his incredible work with Street Factory. Read our review of Infamy here! Toby Gorniak MBE (Aka- Toby G) is a Multi-award-winning transformational coach, Author, Tedx Speaker, Hip-hop artist, Entrepreneurs & Netflix Actor. Using his personal life experiences, Hip Hop culture, love, kind…

1
Soltan on Romany Adventures 26:59

1+ y ago26:59

26:59

We were so lucky to speak with Soltan about his track, "Romany Adventures" from the album Gorilla Warfare, a collaboration with Shaq. You can listen to the song in its entirety anywhere you listen to music. Soltan is the stage name for bass music's most enigmatic producer from the Middle East. Soltan first called the attention of the bass music sce…

1
Romani Feminism with Dr. Ethel Brooks 1:03:15

1+ y ago1:03:15

1:03:15

We're so delighted to share this conversation with Ethel Brooks! We discuss feminism, Romani history, women's labor, fortune telling, and more! Ethel Brooks is Chair of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Associate Professor of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Sociology at Rutgers University. Brooks is a Tate-TrAIN Transnational Fel…

1
Good Morning Romanistan 5: We're Not Rich... Yet 32:56

2y ago32:56

32:56

In this episode, Paulina and Jez catch up and discuss some current events. We love the substack The Earth and Sky Know, especially this post on how Roma don't do small talk. https://www.theskyandearthknow.com/p/the-romani-dont-do-small-talk Why is the Czech Republic pitting Roma and Ukrainians against each other? By Una Hajdari for Euro News https:…

1
Romani Language with Erik Decker 54:47

2y ago54:47

54:47

It’s time to talk chib! We spoke with Erik Decker, our Romani language teacher, about all things language. Erik Decker is a Romani language teacher of Roma and Sinti origin and Director of the Branislava “Papùsha” Weiss Romani Language Online School, a project of the World Roma Federation (WRF) Heritage and Cultural Institute. He taught Internation…

1
Good Morning Romanistan 4: No Dark Secrets 38:23

2y ago38:23

38:23

In this episode Paulina and Jez catch up on current events, listener questions, and talk a bit about what we can and can't do with the podcast. We love you. Articles we mention: Jez's Bustle articles on tarot for the month of July 2023 and for summer love. ROMA FACING ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM IN A TIME OF CLIMATE CATASTROPHE— ERRC Ivanna Nikolic's Inst…

1
Florian Tacorian and Social Media Representation 42:19

2y ago42:19

42:19

We're back to our beloved interviews! Florian Tacorian is a Romani educator, actor and student at the University of Florida. He has built a large platform on TikTok and YouTube under the name @florida.florian where he teaches millions of people about Romani people, history, and culture, as well as, the importance of proper and accurate Romani repre…

1
Foretold Finale! Pick & Choose 22:54

2y ago22:54

22:54

Paulina and Jez discuss the last two episodes of Foretold (episodes 8 & 9), and share their feelings on how tricky it can be to try to represent a culture, even if it’s your own story. We’re grateful for the Los Angeles Times for taking on this story and spotlighting Romani people, and we encourage everyone to read the essay series that the LA Time…

1
Foretold Debrief 6 and 7: Saw a Gypsy One Time in a Window 28:00

2y ago28:00

28:00

Paulina and Jez catch up on episodes 6 and 7 of the Los Angeles Times podcast series Foretold, with special attention to the backlash Paulina is getting, her boundaries, and thoughts about telling such a dramatic part of her story. We also discuss the pressure of representing all Roma, which we can't and don't claim to, and how we're handling a lot…

1
Foretold Debrief 4 and 5: a detailed, decadent, dense slice 29:50

2y ago29:50

29:50

Jez asks Paulina and special guest Gina Merino (episode 1 of Foretold) what they think about episodes 4 and 5 of the Los Angeles Times podcast series, Foretold. We discuss traditional marriage expectations, normalized abuse, and the complexities of representation. CN: sexual abuse/ assault. Gina Merino was born and raised in the Muchwaya Romani Vit…

1
Good Morning Romanistan 3: Fear of Hope 41:18

2y ago41:18

41:18

In this 3rd episode of Good Morning, Romanistan! we share what's going on with us, and what's happening around the world, including Barvalo, prosperity spells gone awry, Ederlezi celebrations, kittens, and more! We suggest you check out season 1 episode 4: Ederlezi, Ivana Nikolic @roma__dancer, poet and teacher Diana Norma Szokolyai, 50 ways to sup…

1
Foretold Debrief 2 and 3: Paulina was a f***ing delight as a 5 year old 19:29

2y ago19:29

19:29

In this episode of Romanistan, Paulina and Jez debrief episodes 2 & 3 of Foretold, the LA Times podcast series centered on Paulina’s life. If you haven’t heard it yet, check it out on any podcast platform. In this episode, we discuss Paulina’s early years in school and what it was like having her kindergarten abd first grade teachers interviewed, a…

1
Rowena Marin: Who Am I in the World? 53:49

2y ago53:49

53:49

Rowena Marin is a Romani woman, author of Who Am I in the World, and Global Agency Lead at Google, in New York. She is the co-founder of The School of Reinvention - a company meant to help people align with their passions and purpose. Rowena comes from a closed community of Silversmith Roma from Romania and managed to succeed in her career through …

1
Foretold Episode 1 Debrief: A Broad Weird Line 24:25

2y ago24:25

24:25

As you may know, Romanistan co-host Paulina Stevens Verminski is featured in a new podcast series by the LA Times, Foretold. Jez interviews Paulina to break down the first episode and reflect on how hard it is to tell your story, particularly a complex one, and represent your culture. This is the first of what we hope are many debriefing episodes, …

1
Good Morning, Romanistan 2: Cat in Heat and Romanistan Babies 51:29

2y ago51:29

51:29

Welcome to our second GMR episode! We talk personal and relatively current events, answer listener's questions, and pull a tarot card. Shoutouts to @anyatheodora1, ally & Turkish bellydancer @aslirakkas, @roma__dancer, @errcinsta, Lolo Lovina, and the new podcast Foretold by the LA Times, which feature's Paulina's life story. Fundraiser for Roma an…

1
Alice Psychic: Spiritual Practitioner 49:18

2y ago49:18

49:18

We had such a wonderful time chatting with the sparkling Alice Psychic! For over 10 years Alice Psychic has been a noteworthy leader in the Spiritual space. You may know Alice from her work as the Psychic Next Door on social media but Alice can also be credited with contributions to the Twinflame movement, the rise in chiromancy and shedding a posi…

1
Good Morning, Romanistan! Episode 1 44:40

2y ago44:40

44:40

Good morning, Romanistan! Here’s our first talk show. We hope you like it. You can get the full, unedited version for $5 a month on our Patreon, or you can donate to our Ko-fi fundraiser to support us. Here are some links for you to explore! “The Roma Artist Sewing a New History for Her People” New York Times, about artist Malgorzata Mirga-Tas “Rom…

1
Herbal Medicine with Jennileen Joseph of Sastimos Holistic Health 57:02

2+ y ago57:02

57:02

Jennileen Joseph of Sastimos Holistic Health brings herself as a Rroma woman into how she approaches all aspects of herbalism and Ayurveda, encouraging people to understand healing from a lens of relationship to land and community. The stories of plants and people are intertwined, as they have grown alongside one another since time immemorial. Jenn…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Jessica Reidy And Paulina Verminski Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen