About Irked

Mission Statement – Raison d’Être – A Calling

Lurking in the shadows of our psyches is often a feeling of being dissatisfied, unheard, and invalidated for our beliefs and values, for our realities, for who we are. Whether we are the “elite” of society, or the “downtrodden,” we often feel, shall we say, irked by the silent emotions to which we wish to give voice. Through our telling, we become as real as we can hope to be and through our speaking we become as powerful—a voice with which to be reckoned.

Irked Magazine is committed to the concept that people improve when they know someone is paying attention. We believe that people everywhere can become less sad, or worried, or angry, or violent, or self-destructive simply by being given a forum to publish their work, and the dignity that comes with that sort of thing. We aim to provide a non-judgemental space in which people can explore matters of the heart.

Irked Staff & Regular Contributors

Brian Segal is living in the country north of Montréal. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis about 18 years ago and, when asked, tells people he is retired (It sounds a lot better than telling people you are on disability insurance). He is happily married, no children, but one very friendly husky cross. He also has the good fortune of living in his own home, not a home. View all Irked posts by Brian >> 

David Roche is an inspirational humorist, motivational speaker and performer who has transformed the challenges and gifts of living with a facial disfigurement into a compelling message that uplifts and delights audiences around the world. David has been featured in four films, including Shameless, a 2006 feature-length documentary by Bonnie Sherr Klein. He has even performed at the (Clinton) White House! Now, with the publication of his first (critically-acclaimed) book, The Church of 80% Sincerity, he is also an author. View all Irked posts by David >>

Donna Williams is Irked Magazine’s Melbourne Correspondent. She’s an internationally best-selling author, painter, sculptor, composer, and interviewer. She has autism, exposure anxiety, language processing disorder, and a “fruit salad” of other disorders. Her band is called Donna & The Aspinauts. View all Irked posts by Donna >>

Jane Goetzee is an artist based in the UK. She holds first and Masters degrees in Fine Art at the University of Staffordshire and has worked for many years as a community artist. She writes poetry, makes short films and soundscapes, most of which focus on issues of identity, stereotyping, and representation. As a Person who has Experienced Anxiety and Bouts Of Depression for Years (Peabody), Jane uses cartooning to cast a less stigmatizing light on issues of mental distress. She also works part-time as a disability adviser and runs a support scheme for families with disabled children. She is closely involved with the Journal of Literary Disability as copy-editor and keen advocate. She is currently planning a research project that will explore the topic of arts in health from a disability studies perspective. View all Irked posts by Jane >>

Judith Kovalski has more university degrees than most people have old issues of National Geographic. Her “religious work” stage, at Concordia University, landed her a BA in Religious Studies, an MA in History and Philosophy of Religious Studies, and part of a PhD in Religious Studies/Ethics. Her “social work” phase, at McGill University, snagged her a BSW, and then an MSW. She has been working as a social worker/crisis counselor ever since – for CLSCs, teen shelters, hospitals, community organizations, and in private practice. She has guest lectured on Death and Dying, and taught elementary and high school ESL. The most amazing thing about Judy, though, is that she’s an incredibly nice person who really cares about the people she’s trying to help. Also, she has been known to sign her emails: Love and knishes, Joodles.

Leah Nemiroff recently finished up an M.Sc. at Dalhousie University (Halifax), in Dr. Hal Whitehead’s lab, studying the amazing long-finned pilot whale. Before her ‘plunge’ into marine biology, she got her B.Sc. (Biology) from Concordia University, with a Minor in Multidisciplinary Studies. Leah finds web programming weirdly relaxing, and most enjoys making websites for people when she is stressed and busy with other things. Some people go to spas, Leah goes to php. When not geeking out on pilot whale acoustics or javascript, she loves to snorkel and scuba dive, horseback ride, hike, or take pretty pictures. She is currently fighting an addiction to volunteering.

My name is Lewis Schofield. I’m a kid with Asperger Syndrome and a lot of other disabilities like Anxiety Disorder, Sensory Integration Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Learning Disabilities, Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities, Severe Allergies and Asthma. I also have Myasthenia Gravis. Like my mom says, just because I have an alphabet soup of disorders doesn’t mean that I am alphabet soup. I’m a kid with cool ideas and I know a lot about computers, gaming systems, video games and some about programming. I have my own websites, and it’s my job to make sure that everything on the sites work well for visitors. Everything on my website is original content because I’m a professional kid with Asperger’s and cool ideas. My inspiration is my cat Lola, who I received from the Humane Society, and my work is mostly done with her purring next to me. View all Irked posts by Lewis >>

Lynne Murray is the critically-acclaimed author of the Josephine Fuller Mystery Series. When she’s not writing fiction, essays or book reviews, she spends a lot of time catering to the needs of a small group of very spoiled cats, and working at her day job—providing editing and office support services. Her business doesn’t have a web page, although she works a lot with Tigerfish, which does. View all Irked posts by Lynne >>

Mara McWilliams is a California-raised, self-taught “outsider artist.” She was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder at 19 years of age. For most of her life she fought the demons associated with mental illness, until she decided to use the illness to her benefit. The birth of Mara’s art came from despair and led her into recovery. For her, art and recovery are inseparable. She lends these same gifts to her poetry. Her first book, “Outta My Head and In Your Face,” opened to critical acclaim and adorns the libraries of some of the greatest thinkers of our generation. Through her art and poetry, Mara McWilliams hopes to be a hopeful blaring voice for those who are afraid that life ends after diagnosis. View all Irked posts by Mara >>

Philip Patston has been a social worker, human rights activist, soap opera actor (he played Waverly’s boyfriend “Josh Sinclair” on Shortland Street), columnist, New Zealand Social Entrepreneur Fellow, Winston Churchill Fellow, trailblazing and award-winning comedian (including a prestigious Billy T award), and New Zealand’s inaugural Queer of the Year (as voted by TV show Queer Nation). These days he’s a much-sought-after consultant, life coach, motivational speaker, and social entrepreneur. View all Irked posts by Philip >>

Sacha Vais is a freelance editor, writer, ghostwriter, and photographer, as well as founder of Irked Magazine. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and holds a communications degree from Concordia University. He toyed with the idea of becoming a journalist or a teacher or a librarian, but went with agoraphobe instead because the hours are better. He uses humour as a defence mechanism, but also because apparently you live longer that way.

Stuart Baker-Brown is a prolific writer, a world-traveler, an award-winning photographer, and an avid outdoorsman. He works tirelessly to promote schizophrenia in a positive light. View all Irked posts by Stuart >>