Depresh Mode with John Moe Niko Stratis on Dad Rock, Glasswork, Depression, Addiction, and Becoming Herself
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Feb 9, 2026 Niko Stratis, a trans writer and memoirist, recounts growing up in the Yukon, working in industrial glass, and battling depression and addiction. She traces how 'dad rock' songs anchored memory and healing. Short, vivid stories explore isolation, toxic workplace masculinity, the numbing pull of alcohol, and the moment of choosing a name that finally felt like her.
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Growing Up Isolated In The Yukon
- Niko grew up in the Yukon, an isolated, homogenous place where difference felt dangerous and visibility risked safety.
- That environment forced her to hide identity and contributed to long-term self-destructive behaviors.
Sadness Without Language Feeds Isolation
- Niko experienced intrusive thoughts and long-standing sadness from a young age but lacked language or models to understand them.
- Silence and stigma meant she interpreted her sadness as personal failure rather than treatable symptoms.
Keeping Secrets While Working With Glass
- Niko worked in glass and construction among men who openly espoused violence toward queer people, forcing secrecy for safety.
- The physical danger of the trade made hiding her identity literal self-preservation.
