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

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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