As attacks on our community continue to escalate, trans-led organizations are facing a double crisis: rising needs and shrinking resources. In this episode, Imara examines the state of funding for queer and trans issues with two insightful interviews. First, Alexander Lee from Funders for LGBTQ breaks down who’s getting funded – and who’s not – in the current philanthropic landscape. After that, Marin Watts from the Trans Justice Funding Project gives insight into how grassroots trans organizers...
Jun 26, 2025•51 min•Season 5Ep. 149
The Supreme Court has upheld a Tennessee law barring gender-affirming care for minors. This is a devastating blow to trans kids and adults across the country, especially in the 25 states that currently have bans on gender affirming care for young people. To unpack the Court’s decision, Imara spoke with award-winning journalist and “Law Dork” writer Chris Geidner in a conversation TransLash Media livestreamed on YouTube. Chris explains the conservative Justices’ reasoning around the question of s...
Jun 19, 2025•57 min•Season 5Ep. 148
As the military ban takes effect, thousands of trans service members have been purged from the forces based solely on their identity. In this episode, Imara speaks with two former officers who have been at the frontlines of this fight. First, Bree Fram shares what it was like to come out and serve as one of the highest ranking, openly trans people in the military. She explains the state of the legal challenges to the ban and why the harm has already been done regardless of the final ruling. Then...
Jun 12, 2025•55 min•Season 5Ep. 147
What does it mean to parent outside the boundaries of motherhood or fatherhood? As part of our ongoing Families series, Imara sits down with artist and educator Johnny Blazes to explore the joys and challenges of raising a child as a non-binary parent. Johnny shares their journey of losing their first-born child, being misgendered by other parents, and learning to pick their battles as a gender non-conforming caregiver. They also discuss the origin story of “Non-Binary Parents Day” and how the h...
Jun 05, 2025•38 min•Season 5Ep. 146
With sweeping cuts to Medicaid under debate in Congress, access to lifesaving healthcare for millions is on the line. In this episode, Imara explores the potential consequences of Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” with Congresswoman Sarah McBride and labor organizer Ai-jen Poo. Rep. McBride explains how these proposed changes would put millions of people at risk of losing access to healthcare, including a disproportionate number of trans people. Then Ai-jen Poo, president of the National Domestic Wo...
May 29, 2025•51 min•Season 5Ep. 145
Amid relentless political attacks, rest is not a luxury for trans people—it’s a necessary act of survival. In this episode, Imara explores how our communities can cultivate wellness, restoration, and resilience in the face of burnout and grief. She’s joined by yoga instructor Avery Kalapa who shares their advice for reducing anxiety and finding peace within ourselves through movement. Then, organizer and spiritual worker Adaku Utah discusses the politics of rest, the relationship between somatic...
May 22, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 5Ep. 144
Marsha P. Johnson helped change the world—and now, she’s getting the biography she deserves. This week, Imara sits down with author and artist Tourmaline to talk about her groundbreaking new book, Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson . Tourmaline 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 collaborations with groups l...
May 15, 2025•45 min•Season 5Ep. 143
The word “mother” hits differently for trans folks. Traditional notions of motherhood are steeped in racialized and cisheterosexual norms. So what does mothering and being mothered look like when you’re trans? This Mother’s Day, we’re replaying this special conversation with the godmother of the Black Trans Lives Matter Movement, Ceyenne Doroshow. Hear about how and why she’s served as a maternal figure for so many trans people over the years, including through her award-winning work as the Foun...
May 08, 2025•29 min•Season 5Ep. 142
In the first 100 days of his second term, Donald Trump has launched an extreme and focused attack on trans people and our rights. This week, Imara speaks with journalists Christopher Wiggins and Katelyn Burns to unpack the real-time consequences of this escalating agenda. Christopher shares what he’s witnessing on Capitol Hill, from bathroom bans and restrictions on the press, to the broader climate of fear and erasure now gripping Washington. Then, Katelyn reflects on the ways Democrats have su...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 5Ep. 141
In celebration of Autism Acceptance Month, we’re replaying this Webby Award-honored episode from last year. Joined by social psychologist and author of “Unmasking Autism,” Devon Price, Imara dives into the politics and lived experiences of being autistic and trans. During their wide-ranging conversation, the two explore the complexity around defining what autism is, how the far right exploits stigma around autism against trans people, and the intricacies of self-diagnosis. Follow TransLash Media...
Apr 24, 2025•36 min•Season 5Ep. 140
For many trans people, the path to building a biological family is filled with questions and misinformation. As part of our ongoing “Families” series, Imara sits down with midwife Marea Goodman, who offers an affirming and inclusive guide to conception, pregnancy, and birth. Marea shares insights from their work with queer and trans parents, breaks down myths about fertility and hormones, and walks through the different approaches to navigating reproductive healthcare and building a strong suppo...
Apr 17, 2025•36 min•Season 5Ep. 139
As far-right tech billionaires continue to seize power, the United States is facing a new and dangerous threat: techno-fascism. This week, Imara unpacks this dangerous new force in American politics with journalist Gil Duran. First, Gil traces the influence of Curtis Yarvin’s extreme beliefs on Peter Thiel, Elon Musk and JD Vance. He explains how tech elites are working to dismantle democracy and install a corporate dictatorship, why their movement is so focused on trans people, and what it will...
Apr 10, 2025•46 min•Season 5Ep. 138
In a world that often denies trans people access to safety and resources, DIY skills can be a path to empowerment and survival. This week, Imara explores the many ways we can all become more self-sufficient. First, she chats with Mercury Stardust about her journey to becoming the “Trans Handy Ma’am.” She explains why patience is the most important skill and how her background helps her connect with people who have been sucked down the alt-right pipeline. Then, Flint Del Sol talks through his exp...
Apr 03, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 5Ep. 137
Astrology has long been a tool of resistance, self-discovery, and connection. This week, Imara explores the power of astrology for queer and trans community and liberation. First, world-famous astrologer Chani Nicholas reads Imara’s birth chart, offering insight into how we can find understanding through astrological practices during turbulent times. Then, Michael J. Morris stops by to share their journey to becoming a consulting astrologer. They explain how astrology can be used to expand our u...
Mar 27, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 5Ep. 136
As anti-trans policies continue to escalate at the national and state level, local organizing has become a bastion of hope. This week, Imara talks with two leaders working to protect their communities in increasingly hostile environments. First, she’s joined by Iowa-based advocate Max Mowitz who unpacks the surprising removal of gender identity protections from the state’s civil rights law. They discuss the impact of corporate withdrawal from LGBTQ+ causes and the ways that mutual aid has helped...
Mar 20, 2025•56 min•Season 5Ep. 135
Authoritarian forces around the world are reshaping digital technologies into tools of control. This week, Imara dives into the growing threat of digital authoritarianism in the United States with writer and scholar Katherine Alejandra Cross. Katherine unpacks why social media has become such a radicalizing force in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and development of individualizing algorithms. She and Imara also dig into the techno-authoritarian beliefs behind the "California ideology,” the wa...
Mar 13, 2025•39 min•Season 5Ep. 134
From indie gems to mainstream titles, trans developers and gamers are reshaping the industry, making room for stories that reflect our lives and experiences. This week, Imara looks into the power of trans expression and representation in video games. First, she sits down with Charlotte A. McGrath to explore the intersection of gaming and comedy, digging into how they both create opportunity for connection and expression. Charlotte shares how she discovered she was trans by playing Zelda and what...
Mar 06, 2025•55 min•Season 5Ep. 133
The film Emilia Pérez has been making waves this awards season—but not without controversy. While the musical thriller has received critical acclaim, its casting choices and portrayal of trans identity have sparked heated debate about representation, authenticity, and Hollywood’s track record with trans stories. This week, Imara breaks down the discourse surrounding Emilia Pérez and its road to the Oscars with filmmaker and critic Drew Burnett Gregory. She explains what might have led to Karla S...
Feb 27, 2025•44 min•Season 5Ep. 132
In honor of Black History Month, Imara digs into the archives to unearth the incredible stories of two 19th century Black trans women. Archivist and scholar Riah Kinsey discusses what he’s discovered about Mary Jones, a sex worker and pick-pocket who made her way into New York City tabloids throughout the 1830’s. Imara and Riah piece together what we know about her remarkable life and wonder about what else there might be to discover. Then cultural organizer and filmmaker Mickaela Bradford discu...
Feb 20, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 131
This Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating what it means to be gay, trans, and in love. Imara talks with couple Arthur Rockwell and Harry Weissman about their relationship and how they navigate this specific intersection of gender and sexuality. Hear from Arthur about how transitioning changed how he dates and challenged his assumptions about who occupies gay male spaces. Harry shares his advice to other cis gay men dating a trans man for the first time. The two also discuss the impact of the polit...
Feb 13, 2025•37 min•Season 5Ep. 130
Trump’s executive order restricting gender-affirming care for minors is the latest blow in a years-long assault on trans kids. Despite these setbacks, parent advocates aren’t backing down. To kick off the TransLash Podcast's new "Families" mini-series, Imara talks with two mothers of trans kids about their efforts to protect their own families and others around the country. Lizette Trujillo shares what it’s been like to take on the national spotlight, the racial complexities of hiding versus fig...
Feb 06, 2025•58 min•Season 5Ep. 129
With the rise of anti-trans attacks on the federal level, state-level advocacy is becoming even more crucial. This week, Imara talks with leaders working to build safety and belonging for trans people in two very different states. First she’s joined by the Executive Director of One Colorado, Nadine Bridges, who unpacks what it means to be a “shield state” under Trump. The two discuss the role of joy in resistance, the complex political landscape of Colorado, and the impact of changes to corporat...
Jan 30, 2025•48 min•Season 5Ep. 128
After a flurry of executive orders, Trump is making good on his promise to go after trans people on day one. This week, Imara takes a look at two of his biggest targets: trans students and military servicemembers. First, she digs into the strategy and impact of Trump’s new military ban with Army veteran Patricia King. The two discuss how this may be part of a broader plan to undercut social and economic mobility for trans people and why it could be detrimental to U.S. military preparedness. Next...
Jan 23, 2025•54 min•Season 5Ep. 127
With the second Trump administration about to take power, how can LGBTQ+ advocacy groups continue to advance their nationwide priorities? Imara is joined by Kelley Robinson, Executive of the Human Rights Campaign, who lays out her organization’s plans for the next four years. The two discuss how new coalition building strategies could help disrupt a growing culture of fear and individualism. Kelley also talks about how she remains optimistic in the face of political hostility and why we need lib...
Jan 16, 2025•35 min•Season 5Ep. 126
Laughter is key to survival. This week, Imara talks to two of the funniest trans people out there about the power of comedy in good times and bad. First, she sits down with comedy writer Ally Beardsley about transitioning in the public eye, Dungeons and Dragons, and learning when to get serious. The two also laugh about the absurdity of Republican politics and Ally’s own conservative background. Next, Imara’s joined by comedian Robin Tran who talks about the relationship between comedy and depre...
Jan 09, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 5Ep. 125
As the TransLash Podcast takes a break for the holidays, we’re sharing some of our favorite episodes from the archive. In this replay from 2023, Imara is joined by legendary trans activist and Stonewall veteran Miss Major. She shares her experience becoming a mother, gives advice to young trans people today, and explains why the fight for our rights will always be stronger than anti-trans policies and political parties. Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok , Instagram , Threads , Blu...
Jan 02, 2025•29 min•Season 4Ep. 124
As the TransLash Podcast takes a break for the holidays, we’re sharing some of our favorite episodes from the archive. In this replay from 2022, Imara has an eye opening conversation with the one and only Janelle Monaé, an 8-time Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, producer, actor, and one of the most celebrated voices of our time. In the interview, Janelle opens up about the challenges of exploring her queerness in the public eye, how she learned she didn’t need to prove herself to anyone, and...
Dec 26, 2024•16 min•Season 4Ep. 123
As the TransLash Podcast takes a break for the holidays, we’re sharing some of our favorite episodes from the archive. In this replay from 2022, Imara discusses how the idea of Black civil rights has been reduced to the idea of changes in specific laws, but the civil rights movement also included the ideas of what we now call Black liberation: a specific revisioning of what our society should look like steeped in racial justice. That’s why she wanted to talk with Black trans leaders about what a...
Dec 19, 2024•44 min•Season 4Ep. 122
Trump has promised to target trans rights on his first day back in office. While it remains to be seen what exactly he’ll do, there are several ways trans individuals can start preparing. Imara welcomes Dr. Asa Radix back on the show to walk through the potential threats to gender-affirming care, including changes to federal funding and protections under the Affordable Care Act. They share their advice on managing hormone prescriptions, finding surgeons in the U.S. and abroad, and reducing risk ...
Dec 12, 2024•48 min•Season 4Ep. 121
The Supreme Court heard arguments in the landmark case of U.S. v. Skrmetti, which takes up the question of gender affirming care access for youth. After attending the oral arguments herself, Imara dissects what she heard in the chambers. First, she sits down with lawyer and co-chair of the National Trans Bar Association D Dangaran to get their immediate reaction and analysis. D explains the debate over different types of scrutiny at play, the role of medical pseudoscience, and the dynamics betwe...
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Season 4Ep. 120
