TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones

Episoade

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  Changing Gender with Susan Stryker 17.09.2026 30min

  Historian Susan Stryker joins Imara to discuss her new book, “Changing Gender,” which is a history of the concept of gender itself. What does gender have to do with language? When did “gender ideology” become the boogeyman it is today? And how did transphobe Matt Walsh inspire this book? Listen for answers to all these and more questions.  This week’s Trans Joy spotlights scholar Victor Ultra Omni. 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 Victor Ultra Omni on Instagram (@fathaultraomni) or visit their website, victoromni.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Replay: Rep. Leigh Finke Is Fighting from the Inside 10.09.2026 31min

  This week, we’re revisiting Imara’s vulnerable conversation with Minnesota State Representative Leigh Finke, the first trans woman ever elected to the MN House of Representatives. In her time in office, Finke has focused on policies that expand housing and healthcare access and cement civil rights protections, most notably a trans refuge law that includes some of the strongest legal protections for gender-affirming care in the nation.But Rep. Finke’s time in office has been filled with turmoil. In June of last year, her friend and MN House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in a politically motivated murder. And, more recently, Minneapolis was besieged by ICE, which resulted in the killing of two citizens. In this episode, Rep. Finke gets real about how hard it is to be a trans legislator in today’s political environment and what motivates her to keep fighting.This week’s Trans Joy spotlights Trina Tate, an educator who develops mindfulness curricula for public school students.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 Representative Leigh Finke on Instagram (@leighformn)Follow Trina Tate on Instagram (@pillowwizard) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Replay: A Losing Political Strategy: Anti-Trans Hate 03.09.2026 49min

  As we gear up for November’s midterms, we’re revisiting our 2025 election recap. The 2025 elections were a resounding victory for Democrats and a rare sign of hope for many during a time when authoritarianism is on the rise. In this episode, Imara dives into the big stories from the 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 gubernatorial election in Virginia. Then, journalist Cyril Mychalejko from the Bucks County Beacon unpacks what happened in two politically significant school boards we reported on for The Anti-Trans Hate Machine podcast.This week’s Trans Joy spotlights Downington, PA Mayor Erica Deuso.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 Charlotte Woods on X (@charlottewords) and Bluesky (@charlottewords.bsky.social)Follow Cyril Mychalejko on Bluesky (@buckscountybeacon.com @cmychalejko.bsky.social) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Replay: River Butcher on Masculinity 27.08.2026 38min

  What’s so funny about masculinity? This week, we’re revisiting Imara’s conversation with actor, writer, and stand-up comedian River Butcher about the beauty and absurdity of being a man. They discuss being affirmed by butt slaps on the baseball field, the nonlinear nature of liberation, and just how far masculinity has expanded over the last few decades. River also gives an inside peek into his complicated relationship with they/them pronouns in queer spaces and Hollywood audition rooms. This week’s Trans Joy spotlights founder of T4T Comedy Terrence Dugan.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 River Butcher on on Instagram and X (@rivbutcher)Follow T4T Comedy on Instagram (@t4tcomedy) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Replay: Trans Gay Love 20.08.2026 36min

  Today, we’re revisiting one of our most romantic episodes. Imara talks with couple Arthur Rockwell and Harry Weissman about how they navigate being a trans guy and a cis guy in love. 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 political climate on relationships, plus what they’ve learned from loving each other. This week’s Trans Joy features trans dating coach Kara Chang.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 Arthur Rockwell on YouTube and TikTok (@arthur_rockwell)Follow Kara Chang on Instagram (@karageous) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Replay: Chani Nicholas and Trans Astrology 13.08.2026 1h 2min

  Today, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes with celebrity astrologer Chani Nicholas! First, Chani 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 understanding of our own complexity, rather than to sort people into pre-determined categories.This week’s Trans Joy features astrologer Marisol Vibración.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 Marisol Vibración on Instagram (@marisolvibracion)Follow Chani Nicholas on Instagram (@chaninicholas), TikTok (@chaninicholas), and Bluesky (@chaninicholas)Follow Michael J. Morris on Instagram (@cowitchcraftofferings) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Replay: Shea Couleé Embraces Drag, DJing, and Beyond 06.08.2026 28min

  As TransLash embarks on our summer break, we’re re-listening to this feel-good conversation with drag star extraordinaire Shea Couleé. Imara chats with Shea about their groundbreaking experience as a Black trans drag queen, including their time performing on Drag Race All-Stars. Shea also talks about their contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and what lies on the horizon.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 Shea Couleé on Instagram (@sheacoulee)  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Elliot Page on The Odyssey, Genderqueer Chimpanzees, and Dating in Hollywood 30.07.2026 36min

  Elliot Page joins Imara for an intimate conversation about this current chapter of his career. He takes us behind the scenes of Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated epic, The Odyssey, reflecting on what it was like returning to work with Nolan and why this role allowed him to feel more like himself than ever before.Elliot also discusses Second Nature, the groundbreaking documentary exploring the remarkable diversity of sex, gender, and family structure in the animal kingdom. Together, he and Imara examine what the natural world can teach us about identity, belonging, and why science often tells a more expansive story than we were taught to believe.Elliot then opens up about his relationship with actress Julia Shiplett, sharing what it's like to build a partnership with someone who understands the unique pressures of working in the entertainment industry. This week’s Trans Joy spotlights filmmaker Henry Hanson. 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 Elliot Page on Instagram (@elliotpage) Follow Henry Hanson on Instagram (@degeneracy_now) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  CATS: The Jellicle Ball 23.07.2026 49min

  Today, we’re meeting two of the trans women behind the Tony Award-winning musical CATS: The Jellicle Ball. Cats: The Jellicle Ball is the Broadway hit of the season that reimagines Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical Cats as a celebration of House Ballroom Culture. In this episode, we hear from Qween Jean, the show’s Tony-winning costume designer. Then, we speak with Tempress Chasity Moore, a ballroom icon who stars as Grizabella. This week’s Trans Joy spotlights artist and drag performer Bri Joy. 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 Tempress Chasity Moore on Instagram (@I_am_Tempress) and watch her podcast on YouTube (@FQCrazySexyCool)Follow Qween Jean on Instagram (@qween_jean)Follow Bri Joy on Instagram (@brij0y) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trans250: Trans Genocide in America 16.07.2026 45min

  This month is the 250th anniversary of the United States, and, in this episode, we’re talking about an uncomfortable truth about our nation. In March of this year, the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention issued its third Red Flag Warning for a genocide against trans people in the US. Today, we’re hearing from Émilie Weidl of the Lemkin Institute to help us understand why they’re sounding the alarm. Then, we’ll hear from Anne Ogborn, the Director of Trans Rescue. Trans Rescue is an organization that helps trans people emigrate to safer countries.This week’s Trans Joy features Kate Isett, who left her home state of Texas to seek asylum in Barcelona, Spain, and founded LGBTQ FAR to help others who want to move abroad, too. 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 the Lemkin Institute on social media (@lemkininstitute)Follow Trans Rescue on social media (@transrescue)Follow Kate Isett on Instagram (@theandrogynousvagabond) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trans250: The Genderless Religious Leader from 1776 09.07.2026 30min

  This month is the 250th anniversary of the United States, and, at TransLash, we’re celebrating Trans250: the history of trans people in the US. In this episode, we’re learning about a genderless religious leader from 1776 known as the Publick Universal Friend. The Friend’s story is fascinating, surprising, and a reminder that trans people have always been here. Historian Scott Larson walks us through the Friend’s life and what it tells us about trans history.This week’s Trans Joy features historian Cassius Adair, who is writing a book about trans people and computer history.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) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Unpacking the SCOTUS Trans Sports Decision 02.07.2026 43min

  This week, the Supreme Court issued a major decision in legal challenges to state bans on trans girls and women being able to participate in sports. The ruling will have a huge impact for not only trans students and athletes but also raises questions for civil rights protections across the board.To unpack the Court’s decision, Imara sits down with award-winning journalist and Law Dork writer Chris Geidner.  You can watch the YouTube live stream here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSRdevoi6uM&t=1989sFollow 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 Chris Geidner on BlueSky (@chrisgeidner.bsky.social) and read law Dork here: https://www.lawdork.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Bingeworthy Black Trans TV 25.06.2026 54min

  As summer heats up, why not stay cool inside and binge TV shows with some extraordinary Black, trans woman characters? Today we’re speaking with L’lerrét Jazelle, who plays Fatima on The Chi and Chyna McQueen, who was recently nominated for a BAFTA Television award for her role in Get Millie Black. P.S. you can watch this episode on youtube—check us out at https://www.youtube.com/@TransLashMediaThis week’s Trans Joy features theater artist Obie Outlaw. Send your Trans Joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org Follow L’lerrét Jazelle on Instagram (@thebaejazelle)Follow Chyna McQueen on Instagram and TikTok (@chyna.mcqueen)Follow Obie Outlaw on Instagram (@obie8outlaw @outlawed8productions)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) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Queens of Queens 18.06.2026 35min

  Today, we're speaking with Rula Avila Munoz, the host of Las Reinas De Queens - which translates to The Queens of Queens. It's a 10-part podcast series from Radio Ambulante Studios and iHeartRadio and brings you the story of the vibrant, long-standing trans community that has flourished for decades along Roosevelt Avenue in Queens, New York. At the center of the community was Lorena Borjas, an activist and mother figure who helped generations of trans women navigate life in New York City. When Lorena died in 2020, the community was left with a difficult question: What happens when the person who took care of everyone is gone?You can watch this episode on youtube! https://www.youtube.com/translashmediaListen to Las Reinas De Queens athttps://radioambulante.org/audio/central-las-reinas-de-queens-santa-madre-reina and find English transcripts at https://centralpodcast.audio/ Follow Rula Avila Munoz on Instagram (@rulaamunoz) This week's Trans Joy features Juno Hill, a Maryland-based DJ. 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) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trans Period Pride 11.06.2026 37min

  This Pride season, why not take a moment to feel proud of your period? For the past four years, Mass NOW, a feminist organization in Massachusetts, has been working with other groups to organize Trans Period Pride, a space for open and honest conversation about what it’s like to be a trans person who menstruates. This year, the event has, unsurprisingly, attracted the ire of right-wing news. But this only highlights the importance of these conversations—and of period equity for all genders. This episode features a conversation with two of the organizers of Trans Period Pride: Mass NOW Executive Director Sasha Goodfriend and Deputy Director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition Kelsey Grunstra.This week’s Trans Joy features Melani Midas, a Caribbean-American fashion designer and DJ. 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 Mass NOW on social media (@MassNOW)Follow the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition on social media (@masstpc)Follow Melani Midas on social media (@melani.midas @melani.midas.wav @melani.eyez) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  America’s Trans Migrant Crisis 04.06.2026 48min

  As anti-trans laws pass across the country, more and more trans folks are leaving their home states for better access to legal protections, healthcare, and safer social environments. Today, we’re hearing from two LGBTQ advocates in progressive cities about what’s needed to support the internally displaced trans people in their communities. Jessa Davis is a co-chair of the Seattle LGBTQ Commission, which issued the state of emergency recommendation. Honey Mahogany is the Director of the Office of Transgender Initiatives in San Francisco. This week’s Trans Joy features Caro Caden, a theatre artist, oral historian, and archivist.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 Jessa Davis on Instagram (@davisjessa28) and visit her website (https://jessagavrielle.com)Follow Honey Mahogany on social media (@honeymahogany) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Twinks vs. Dolls Olympics 28.05.2026 46min

  Today’s episode is all about The Twinks vs. Dolls Olympics, a gnarly, nasty, and very queer competition that’s taken New York—and the world—by storm. Twinks vs. Dolls was created in 2022 by the Brooklyn gay bar Singers; videos of the lube wrestling and cigarette smoking contests from that year went viral. Since then, it’s exploded in size and notoriety and similar queer physical contests have sprung up all across the country. Today, we’re speaking with Twinks vs. Dolls co-creator Erik Escobar and 2025 champion Tasi Taimanglo to get the inside scoop. This week’s Trans Joy features Madeline Clere, a Junior Vocal Instructor at the Seattle Voice Lab, which specializes in voice lessons for trans students looking to experiment with or change their voice. 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 Tasi Taimanglo on Instagram (@tasinyc / @tranmagazinenyc)Follow Erik Escobar on Instagram (@eeeeeeeeeeeeeeerik)Follow Singers on Instagram and Letterboxd (@SingersNY) Follow Madeline Clere on TikTok (@madeclere) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Resourcing Trans Dreams 21.05.2026 48min

  With trans people under attack like never before, trans people need to be resourced like never before. Today, we’re hearing from two people working hard to secure those resources. Elisa Crespo is the Executive Director of the Stonewall Community Foundation, a nonprofit that invests in LGBTQ+ organizations, projects, and leaders. Rickke Mananzala is the President of New York Foundation, which funds community organizing and grassroots advocacy led by and for people who live in NYC. Both Elisa and Rickke draw on their identities and ties to their communities to inspire their work.This week’s Trans Joy features Randy Truong, a Memphis-based organizer and civic changemaker.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 Elisa Crespo on Instagram (@elisacre_)Follow New York Foundation on Instagram (@thenewyorkfoundation)Follow Randy Truong on Instagram (@r.andytruong) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trans Art Under Attack 14.05.2026 56min

  This week, we explore the controversy surrounding Amy Sherald’s painting Trans Forming Liberty, which depicts a Black trans woman posing as the Statue of Liberty.In the summer of 2025, Amy Sherald canceled her highly anticipated and historic exhibition, American Sublime, at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery after Sherald said she faced pressure from museum officials to remove Trans Forming Liberty and show a video of it instead.Rather than compromise, Sherald pulled the show and brought American Sublime to the Baltimore Museum of Art, where it became the museum’s most attended exhibition since 2000, drawing more than 80,000 visitors.Explaining her decision, Sherald said, “The video would have opened up for debate the value of trans visibility, and I was opposed to that being a part of the American Sublime narrative.”First, we hear from Grace Byron, an art critic who wrote about the chilling effect of Trump’s anti-trans executive orders on trans artists in a piece for the New Yorker called “The War on Trans Art.” Then, we hear from the model depicted in Trans Forming Liberty, Arewà Basit, who is also an artist herself.This week’s Trans Joy features Gericault De La Rose, a Chicago-based artist.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 Grace Byron on social media (@emotrophywife)Follow Arewà Basit on Instagram (@arewabasit)Follow Gericault De La Rose on Instagram (@im.ubae) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Rep. Leigh Finke Is Fighting from the Inside 07.05.2026 33min

  This week, Imara sits down for a vulnerable conversation with Minnesota State Representative Leigh Finke, the first trans woman ever elected to the MN House of Representatives. In her time in office, Finke has focused on policies that expand housing and healthcare access and cement civil rights protections, most notably a trans refuge law that includes some of the strongest legal protections for gender-affirming care in the nation.But Rep. Finke’s time in office has been filled with turmoil. In June of last year, her friend and MN House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in a politically motivated murder. And, more recently, Minneapolis was besieged by ICE, which resulted in the killing of two citizens. In this episode, Rep. Finke gets real about how hard it is to be a trans legislator in today’s political environment and what motivates her to keep fighting.This week’s Trans Joy features Trina Tate, an educator who develops mindfulness curricula for public school students.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 Representative Leigh Finke on Instagram (@leighformn)Follow Trina Tate on Instagram (@pillowwizard) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.