Last Born In The Wilderness

In this episode, I talk with Brandon Scott Tesch. Brandon is known for a few things (such as being a fantastic hairdresser), but has more recently been making a name for himself as Ursula, his Drag Queen persona, in local theater productions that have only become more successful as the months and years have gone by. We discuss the challenges of growing up and coming out in this area, embracing his Drag persona, and the expanding popularity of the productions he is a part of. We both are very excited to see what is happening in this community, and look forward to seeing what vibrant individuals here have to offer in the coming years. Things are changing, and we are ready. // Episode notes: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com/episodes/brandon-scott-tesch // Sustain + support: https://www.patreon.com/lastborninthewilderness // Donate: https://www.paypal.me/lastbornpodcast

We start this episode off with Danielle Billing, a teacher at the Idaho School For The Deaf And Blind, relaying a story about providing basic sex education for her students. We go on to discuss sexuality more broadly, covering such subjects as Freud, Puritanical guilt, growing up with anxiety and depression, coming out, as well as the Dietrich High School court case. *The opinions expressed in this episode in no way represent the views and positions of the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind.* // Episode notes: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com/episodes/danielle-billing // Sustain + support: https://www.patreon.com/lastborninthewilderness // Donate: https://www.paypal.me/lastbornpodcast

Liyah Babayon is an Armenian refugee, activist, entrepreneur, and business owner of Ooh La La consignment boutique in Twin Falls, Idaho. I first became familiar with Liyah after she was featured in a Slate article that explored the upsurge of anti-refugee activism in the city of Twin Falls, Idaho. I approached her to do a podcast with me, and what resulted was an in-depth and fascinating discussion into her personal history as a refugee, of starting a business during the financial crisis of 2007-2008, the Armenian Genocide, the geopolitical chess game being played between the United States and Russia in Syria and the greater Middle East, her personal experience with the xenophobic anti-refugee activism that has grown in this community, and living in this place and time during the great experiment that is America, as well as many other fascinating subjects. // Episode notes: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com/episodes/liyah-babayan // Sustain + support: https://www.patreon.com/lastborninthewilderness // Donate: https://www.paypal.me/lastbornpodcast