TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones

This month’s elections were a resounding victory for Democrats and a rare sign of hope for many during a dark time where authoritarianism is on the rise. In this episode, Imara dives into the big stories from the recent 2025 election and what they mean for the trans community. First, Charlotte Rene Woods, a politics, health, & housing reporter for The Virginia Mercury helps us understand how anti-trans rhetoric became a losing strategy in the recent gubernatorial elections in Virginia. Then, journalist Cyril Mychalejko from the Bucks County Beacon unpacks what happened in two politically significant school boards we reported on in this year’s investigation on The Anti-Trans Hate Machine podcast.Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org You can listen to The Anti-Trans Hate Machine Podcast here. 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: Charlotte Woods:Twitter/X: @charlottewordsBluesky: @charlottewords.bsky.socialCyril Mychalejko Follow on Bluesky @buckscountybeacon.com @cmychalejko.bsky.social Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the TransLash Podcast, Imara shares the latest season of The Anti-Trans Hate Machine, TransLash Media’s investigative series. In this final episode, she and her team investigate how the anti-trans attacks on schools are part of a larger strategy to dismantle public education, and they’re being driven by the most powerful coalition on the right. Join Imara as she learns how the plan to privatize education is flourishing in Arizona and starting to gain momentum across the country. The ultimate goal: use vouchers to destroy public schools — a major pillar of democracy. But the outcome of these efforts is far from a foregone conclusion. The interviews with Tami Staas and Marisol Garcia in this episode were conducted before the assassination of Charlie Kirk. To learn more, visit translash.org/antitranshatemachine.Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on Instagram, Threads,  X, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on X (@ImaraJones) and Instagram (@Imara_jones_)The Anti Trans Hate Machine is produced by TransLash Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the TransLash Podcast, Imara shares Season 4 of The Anti-Trans Hate Machine, TransLash Media’s investigative series about the surge of anti-trans attacks in education and how it’s part of a strategy to upend democracy. In this second episode, Imara travels to Florida, ground zero for the modern anti-trans movement in schools. Join her as she travels to the belly of the beast, exploring the origin and spread of Moms for Liberty, a so-called parental rights group weaponizing anti-trans hate. In this episode, Imara uncovers how the anti-trans movement in schools is directly tied to the January 6 insurrection, revealing a fringe conspiracy theory fueling these efforts by casting trans people as an existential threat to America.To learn more, visit translash.org/antitranshatemachine.Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on Instagram, Threads,  X, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on X (@ImaraJones) and Instagram (@Imara_jones_)The Anti Trans Hate Machine is produced by TransLash Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the TransLash Podcast, Imara shares Season 4 of The Anti-Trans Hate Machine, TransLash Media’s investigative series about the surge of anti-trans attacks in education. Join her as she discovers these right-wing attacks are part of a larger strategy to destroy democracy by dismantling public education. She’ll expose the inner workings of this movement and take you into communities fighting back to preserve this critical pillar of democracy. In this first episode, Imara investigates a right-wing effort to take over two school boards in Pennsylvania, throwing a vital swing district into chaos. To learn more, visit translash.org/antitranshatemachine.Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on Instagram, Threads,  X, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on X (@ImaraJones) and Instagram (@Imara_jones_)The Anti Trans Hate Machine is produced by TransLash Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Far-right activists have been targeting schools across the country with anti-trans attacks. As we’ve shown in the latest season of The Anti-Trans Hate Machine podcast, their efforts are part of a larger strategy to sow distrust in public education and ultimately privatize it. Today, Imara speaks with two critical sources from TransLash’s investigative series. First, she talks to Eliza Byard, an advocate for LGBTQ+ kids in schools, about how this assault is central to the right-wing authoritarian project to erode democracy. Then, she chats with Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, about how teachers are coping with the weight of the attacks and what communities can do to fight back.Listen to The Anti-Trans Hate Machine: translash.org/antitranshatemachine 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: Eliza Byard: Bluesky (@ebyard.bsky.social)Becky Pringle: Bluesky (@neapresident.bsky.social) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's clear that tech billionaires want AI to be the next tech revolution to change society. How it's being developed and used raises serious questions and concerns around the impact on trans people, especially given the key companies developing these products have very close ties to the Trump administration. First, Imara speaks with Karen Hao, a journalist and bestselling author of Empire of AI, a sweeping investigation into the rise of OpenAI and the global power dynamics of machine intelligence. Then, she chats with Eddie Ungless, a recent Phd graduate in Natural Language Processing, about what it might take to make these technologies safer and more accountable. 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: Eddie Ungless: Bluesky (@mxeddie.bsky.social)Karen Hao: Bluesky (@karenhao.bsky.social)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.The Translash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver K., Aubrey C., Rebekah R., Josephine M., Hillary E., and Morgan A. Lucy L. did the sound editing and engineering for this episode.Theme music composed by Ben D. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last month, reports surfaced that the FBI is considering a new domestic terrorism category: “Transgender Ideology-Inspired Violence and Extremism,” or TIVE. In today’s episode, Imara unpacks what that means—and why it’s so dangerous. First, Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss lays out the state of violent extremism across the political spectrum and why the far-right has turned trans people into scapegoats. Then, R.G. Cravens from the Southern Poverty Law Center discusses how a TIVE designation could create permission structures for white supremacist and anti-LGBTQ violence. Despite their dire warnings, both guests also share where they’re finding hope in the fight against domestic violent extremism and disinformation.Check out Season 3 of the Anti-Trans Hate Machine here.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)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we honor the life and legacy of Miss Major Griffin-Gracy (1940-2025), an incomparable leader in the fight for trans liberation. In remembrance, we revisit Imara’s conversation with Miss Major from 2023, in which she reflects on her more than 50 years of activism. Miss Major speaks candidly about the importance of family, the impact of Stonewall, and what it means to sustain a movement in the face of increasing political hostility. As we mourn her passing, we celebrate her extraordinary impact and the countless lives she transformed simply by refusing to give up hope.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)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the political landscape becomes increasingly hostile, it’s more important than ever to source hope from within ourselves and our communities. This week, Imara uncovers some never-before-heard gems from the trans joy archives. With a focus on the incredible community builders we’ve interviewed over the years, this special episode celebrates strengthening connections, sharing resources, and creating stronger networks of care and resilience. Hear from a musician, parent, pastor and more about what drives them to build and nourish trans community.Listen to Season 3 of the Anti-Trans Hate Machine here.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)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some stories of transformation are so powerful they transcend time and place. In this episode, Imara talks with Brazilian actress, writer, and producer Darwin Del Fabro about her career and new solo play Lili/Darwin. The one-woman show intertwines her own journey with that of Lili Elbe, one of the first people to undergo gender confirmation surgery. Darwin reflects on the similarities between Brazil and the U.S. when it comes to trans visibility and violence, why she waited to begin her transition until after establishing her acting career, and the importance of bringing stories like Lili Elbe’s to life on stage. Vote for TransLash in the Signal Awards for best LGBTQ+ show, LGBTQ+ individual episode, LGBTQ limited series, Thought Leadership individual episode and Activism, Public Service & Social Impact limited series.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: Colby Lamson-Gordon: Instagram (@colbylg)Darwin Del Fabro: Instagram (@darwindelfabro)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.The Translash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, 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.