TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones

Music has always carried the stories of trans lives, yet so much of that history is at risk of being lost. In this episode, Imara speaks with the co-founders of the Trans Music Archive, Ariel Loh and Rowan McDonald, about their groundbreaking endeavor to preserve and celebrate music made by trans artists. Ariel and Rowan share the fateful moment that inspired them to launch the project and why they chose to use vinyl pressings to build the archive in an era of digital streaming. They also dig into the complexities of working with major cultural institutions in this political moment and their decision to remain independent. Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on Instagram (@Imara_jones_), Threads (@imara_jones_), Bluesky (@imarajones.bsky.social), X (@ImaraJones)Follow our guest on social media: CENSORED Dialogue: Instagram (@censoredialogue)The Trans Music Archive: (@transmusicarchive)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.The Translash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway, Hillary Esquina, and Morgan Astbury. Lucy Little did the sound editing and engineering for this episode.Theme music composed by Ben Draghi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Across the United States, anti-trans laws and rising hostility have forced some families into a heartwrenching decision: leaving their homes behind to keep their children safe. In the newest episode of our ongoing “Families” series, Imara speaks with parents and advocates Lizette and Jose Trujillo about their journey relocating outside the country with their trans son. They share the grief and hope of starting over, the challenges of leaving family and community behind in Arizona, and how they knew when it was time to go.Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on Instagram (@Imara_jones_), Threads (@imara_jones_), Bluesky (@imarajones.bsky.social), X (@ImaraJones)Follow our guest on social media: Lizette Trujillo: Instagram (@themamiadvocate)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.The Translash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway, Hillary Esquina, and Morgan Astbury. Lucy Little did the sound editing and engineering for this episode.Theme music composed by Ben Draghi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As attacks on trans people continue to escalate across the country, standing up for our rights is more important than ever. In this replay, Imara talks with two people who are fighting back in two states with some of the harshest anti-trans laws. First, she’s joined by the Executive Director of The Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT), Emmett Schelling, who discusses the importance of solidarity with other social justice movements, the challenges of organizing in Texas, and what keeps him motivated to continue the fight. Next, Imara interviews high school math teacher Katie Wood about why she sued the Florida Department of Education and her perspective on the ethical obligation to stand up for what’s right. Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org. Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, X, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on Instagram (@Imara_jones_), Threads (@imara_jones_), Bluesky (@imarajones.bsky.social), X (@ImaraJones)Follow our guests on social media!Emmett Schelling: X (@transtexas) and Instagram (@transtexas)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.The Translash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway, Hillary Esquina, and Morgan Astbury. This episode was sound engineered with help from Lucy Little and Alyssa Midcalf. Theme music composed by Ben Draghi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In honor of what would have been Marsha P. Johnson’s 80th birthday, we’re replaying this conversation with Tourmaline about her book “Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson.” In it, she shares what it took to piece together Marsha’s story, from her early life in Times Square to her radical visions of freedom, spirituality, and care. She also unpacks Marsha’s expansive political imagination, her collaboration with groups like the Black Panthers, and why telling the full truth about her legacy matters more than ever in the face of right-wing historical revisionism. Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, X, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on Instagram (@Imara_jones_), Threads (@imara_jones_), Bluesky (@imarajones.bsky.social), X (@ImaraJones)Follow our guests on social media:Caro de Robertis: Instagram (@caro_derobertis)Tourmaline: Instagram (@tourmaliiine)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.The Translash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway, Hillary Esquina, and Morgan Astbury. Xander Adams engineered the original episode, and Lucy Little engineered this replay.Theme music composed by Ben Draghi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode replay, Imara is joined by two leading trans scholars to discuss our community’s history and future. First, she talks with historian Dr. Susan Stryker about the last century of trans life and activism in the United States. They discuss why Compton’s Cafeteria Riot has been overlooked in the story of trans history, how to make sense of today’s reactionary politics, and what we can learn from past survivors of oppression. Next, Imara chats with cultural theorist Dr. C. Riley Snorton, who dives into the racialized history of transness. He explains how enslaved people were experimented on by medical researchers and used to determine ideals about gender. Dr. Snorton also shares his work to document a Black, radical tradition. Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on Instagram (@Imara_jones_), Threads (@imara_jones_), Bluesky (@imarajones.bsky.social), X (@ImaraJones)Follow our guests on social media!Louisiana Trans Oral History Project: https://www.louisianatransoralhistory.org/ Susan Stryker: Bluesky (‪@susanstryker.bsky.social‬)C. Riley Snorton: Instagram (@crileysnorton) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Online harassment against trans people has become increasingly violent and sophisticated over the last few years. In this episode replay, Imara traces the emergence of coordinated attacks against people like streamer Clara Santorini, aka Keffals. First, she discusses Kiwi Farms, “Libs of TikTok,” and the other malicious actors with Harvard Cyberlaw Clinic instructor Alejandra Caraballo. She then speaks with the lead cybersecurity instructor at Tech Learning Collective about how we can better protect ourselves online and in our private digital communication. Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on Instagram (@Imara_jones_), Threads (@imara_jones_), Bluesky (@imarajones.bsky.social), X (@ImaraJones)Follow our guests on social media!Alejandra Caraballo: Bluesky (@esqueer.net‬)Tech Learning Collective: https://techlearningcollective.com TransTech: X (@TransTechSocial)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.The Translash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway, Hillary Esquina, and Morgan Astbury. Xander Adams engineered the original episode, and Lucy Little engineered this replay.Theme music composed by Ben Draghi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In times like these, we’re all in need of a little extra joy. This week, Imara uncovers some never-before-heard gems from the trans joy archives. With a focus on the incredible artists we’ve highlighted over the years, this special episode is the first in an ongoing “Trans Joy” series. Hear from poets, filmmakers, photographers and more about where they find inspiration, what creativity means to them, and the powerful ways art can help us find our way to a better future. Trans joy artists include: Cyree Jarelle Johnson, George Abraham, J Mase III, Cameron Awkward-Rich, Jess T Dugan, Joie Lou Shakur, Lauren Snyder, and Lauren YS. TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.The TransLash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway, Hillary Esquina, and Morgan Astbury. Lucy Little did the sound editing and engineering for this episode.Theme music composed by Ben Draghi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blending queerness, technology, and magic, A.E. Osworth is reshaping what fiction can create. In this episode, Imara sits down with the award-winning novelist to talk about their unique approach to storytelling. They unpack the cultural fallout of GamerGate, how it inspired their debut novel We Are Watching Eliza Bright, and what it reveals about gender, power, and the internet. The conversation also explores A.E.’s fascination with artificial intelligence, including how they think about the ethical ways AI can be used as part of a writing practice. Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on Instagram (@Imara_jones_), Threads (@imara_jones_), Bluesky (@imarajones.bsky.social), X (@ImaraJones)Follow our guest on social media: Cat Fitzpatrick: Instagram (@littlepusspress)A.E. Osworth: Instagram (@aeosworth)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.The Translash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway, Hillary Esquina, and Morgan Astbury. Lucy Little did the sound editing and engineering for this episode.Theme music composed by Ben Draghi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to write yourself into the world when the world tries to write you out of it?  First, Imara honors the late Andrea Gibson with a special trans joy segment. Then in an intimate conversation, Imara sits down with poet and multidisciplinary artist Golden to explore the power of trans poetry as a vehicle for kinship building and identity formation. Together, they dig into how Golden’s work weaves together themes of family, legacy, and justice through both words and photography. Golden also reflects on poetry as a practice of mapping the past and future and what role it can play in understanding anti-trans and anti-Black violence.Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on Instagram (@Imara_jones_), Threads (@imara_jones_), Bluesky (@imarajones.bsky.social), X (@ImaraJones)Follow our guest on social media: Golden: Instagram (@goldenthem_)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.The Translash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway, Hillary Esquina, and Morgan Astbury. Lucy Little did the sound editing and engineering for this episode.Theme music composed by Ben Draghi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At a time when trans stories are under attack and disinformation is spreading fast, the role of trans journalists has never been more vital. In this episode, Imara speaks with Tre’vell Anderson about their new role as co-executive director of the Trans Journalists Association (TJA). Tre’vell reflects on the idea of “activist journalism,” the ways mainstream outlets are failing to accurately report on trans issues, and why hiring gender expansive journalists is so important at this moment. They also share their vision for the future and how TJA is building power and support for reporters across the industry.Read “Trans Voices in America” on TransLash Wire here: https://translash.org/wire/trans-voices-of-america/ Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on Instagram (@Imara_jones_), Threads (@imara_jones_), Bluesky (@imarajones.bsky.social), X (@ImaraJones)Follow our guests on social media: Kaylee Lindenmuth: Facebook (KayleeLindenmuth)Tre’vell Anderson: Instagram (@rayzhon)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.The Translash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway, Hillary Esquina, and Morgan Astbury. Lucy Little did the sound editing and engineering for this episode.Theme music composed by Ben Draghi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.