Sex Talk with JoJo Bear: Interview with Freddy Freeman.
- JoJo Bear
- Nov 23, 2017
- 5 min read
Singer, songwriter, event producer and dreamer; what doesn't this bear do? I got to sit down and chat with the fabulous Freddy Freeman about his life and whats currently going on in his world! Enjoy!
JB: Freddy, tell us a little something about yourself? Where you are from? Where do you live now? FF: I was born and raised in a small town in upstate New York called Saratoga Springs. I moved to New York City at the age of 22, and lived there for about 12 years. When I met my husband Jay, who was a southerner, we moved to Nashville together, then spent a couple years in rural Georgia, where I managed a gay campground. Five years ago, we had the chance to move back to my hometown, when we joined the resident community at Easton Mountain, a non-profit retreat center run by gay men.
JB: What is Bear Your Soul all about?
FF: Well, my own journey of self-discovery, as a gay man of size, has been a challenging one, sometimes filled with a lot of shame and isolation. At, first my discovery of the bear community back in 2001 was a big help, but as I began to go to more and more bear events, I started to notice that it was not fulfilling my need for connection and community the way it once did, so I wanted to create something that provided all the fun of the usual bear event, but really set an intention to build community and to provide additional workshops about things like body image, heart connected touch, self-love, overcoming shame, embracing our sexuality, and finding our authentic power. I have discovered that there is a real need for this out there. It seems like it’s easier than ever to hook up, but harder than ever to connect. We don’t take away any of the dances, parties, play or other fun activities, but we add a deeper dimension to them. I have also taken the central workshop of the retreat “Loving Our Bear Bodies” to NYC, to Bear events in the Midwest, and to Bear Week in Provincetown.
JB: I know you are a musician, tell us a little more about that?
FF: Well I’ve been a singer songwriter all my life, and produce my own albums. I’m working on my fourth one now. My desire to connect with people through my music is really what lead me to do Bear Your Soul. In 2002 I organized a concert of bear identified singer songwriters called "Bearapalooza". It ended up growing into an artists’ collective of over 80 different artists, that performed in shows at bear runs across the country for about a decade. That’s how I ended up going to so many bear events, and realizing that I wanted to create something different. Music is still a huge part of what I do. I usually end up performing at least a few songs at most Bear Your Soul events with my friends, and still get out and do some touring when I can.
JB: Tell us about your segment for HBO’s VICE TV?
FF: When we were in Provincetown for Bear Week, I guess the VICE producers had heard about our workshops from the Provincetown Bears group, so they contacted me and asked if they could come to one of the workshops. The show is called Balls Deep, and the premise is that the host Thomas immerses himself in and in some kind of subculture. He hung out with tent revival preachers, spent a week with a Muslim family for Ramadan and things like that. So, they sent this small, wiry straight guy to Bear Week to immerse himself in the experience. After one of the sessions, I asked a few of the guys to stick around and we walked him through what we do, nudity, touching and all! I was originally afraid they would edit the peace in a way that made it seem ridiculous, but they did a really wonderful job, and now when we talk to people about the workshops, they will sometimes say “Hey, didn’t I see you naked on VICE TV?”
JB: So tell us what kind of guy turns you on? Description, attitude, personality? FF: Well, I know that there are certain physical attributes that will tend to catch my eye especially from looking at pictures and videos, like a lot of body hair and stocky build, but in-person there are so many factors that can ignite that spark. It can be a look in his eye, the way he smiles, a smell, the tone of voice. It’s like melody, harmony and rhythm, all working together to create great music. One of the things I usually share with the guys at the end of a workshop, is that doing this work has made me appreciate such a wide range of body types. I can find something sexy and interesting about most men that I meet.
JB: Any crazy fans out there? Anything really juicy a fan has done to you? FF: I wish I had something interesting to share, but no not really. If there is a fan out there that wants to do some role playing, I am all for it! Help me get better answers to this question guys!
JB: What do you want to offer the Bear community?
FF: I really hope that my events and workshops give men an opportunity to practice radical inclusion, to build real community and connection, to be comfortable in their skin while learning new loving ways to take care of their bodies, and most of all to realize that they are so much more than the negative voices of shame and fear tell them. There is so much beauty to be celebrated in all of us!
JB: What’s next for Freddy Freeman?
My fourth album “Goldenheart”, a trip to Japan, continuing on my path with Bear Your Soul, who knows what else ?
JB: What’s next for “Bear your Soul”?
FF: In the coming year, I hope to do more “Loving Our Bear Bodies” workshops in cities like NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, DC, Rochester and Hartford, and I’m exploring the idea of bringing a full Bear Your Soul retreat to the West Coast and/or Florida. We will be bringing the workshops again in February to North American Bear in Kentucky and to bear week in Provincetown in July. We will of course be continuing our two annual events at Easton Mountain which is our home base. The summer camp event is in August, and our next Bear Your Soul retreat is right around the corner. January 12-15 here at Easton is our popular Winter Hibernation event. Come get cozy with the Bears up on the Mountain
JB: Where do we find more information about you and your work? You can go to www.bearyoursoul.org for information about all our events and workshops. You can also visit our Facebook page! www.facebook.com/bearyoursoulorg
JB: What do you consider sexy?
Men who can be strong about who they are and yet vulnerable enough to be emotional and cry.
Kindness, Forgiveness, Love
Playful and comfy sex filled with laughter and dirty talk
People flaunting whatever they “Have to work with”
JB: Thanks Freddy!
FF: My Pleasure JoJo!
So, want to meet Freddy in person and get to play with me, I will be one of the faculty of "Bear your Soul: Winter Hibernation" at Easton Mountain this January. Book your space below:
Want more info about Sex, Pleasure and Sensuality? Visit my site at www.metamorphicembodiment.com
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