TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones

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 somatics and liberation work, and the importance of staying rooted in your own needs during times of upheaval. Subscribe to The Mess: Imara’s Guide to Our Political Hellscape on Apple Podcasts.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:Avery Kalapa: Instagram (@yoga_with_avery) and Bluesky (@yogawithavery.bsky.social)Adaku Utah: Instagram (@soularbliss)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.Translash Team: Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway. Xander Adams is our Senior Sound Engineer and a contributing producer.Morgan Astbury is our Social Media Coordinator. Hillary Esquina is our Director of Digital Media and Social. Theme music composed by Ben Draghi.

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 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.Translash Team: Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway. Xander Adams is our Senior Sound Engineer and a contributing producer.Morgan Astbury is our Social Media Coordinator. Hillary Esquina is our Director of Digital Media and Social. Theme music composed by Ben Draghi.

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 Founder and Executive Director of G.L.I.T.S.Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok, Instagram, Threads,  X, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on X (@ImaraJones) and Instagram (@Imara_jones_)Follow our guest on social media!Ceyenne Doroshow: Instagram (@doroshow)TransLash Podcast is produced by Translash Media.Translash Team: Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway. Xander Adams is our senior sound engineer and a contributing producer.Alex Guerra is our social media producer.Digital strategy by Daniela Capistrano.Theme Music: Ben Draghi and ZZK records. 

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 succeeded and failed at standing up to Trump’s agenda. Both conversations expose how transphobia is being used as a test case for stripping rights from broader swaths of the population, and what the media and public still aren’t fully grasping about the danger. 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:Millie Ahearn: Instagram (@millie_trumpet)Christopher Wiggins: Bluesky (@cwnewser.bsky.social)Katelyn Burns: X (@transscribe)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.Translash Team: Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway. Xander Adams is our Senior Sound Engineer and a contributing producer.Morgan Astbury is our Social Media Coordinator. Hillary Esquina is our Director of Digital Media and Social. Theme music composed by Ben Draghi.

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 @translashmedia on TikTok, Instagram, Threads,  X, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on X (@ImaraJones) and Instagram (@Imara_jones_)Follow our guests on social media!Cyrée Jarelle Johnson: X (@cyreejarelle) and TikTok (@cyreejarelle)Devon Price: Instagram (@drdevonprice)TransLash Podcast is produced by Translash Media.Translash Team: Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway. Xander Adams is our senior sound engineer and a contributing producer.Alex Guerra is our social media producer.Digital strategy by Daniela Capistrano.Theme Music: Ben Draghi and ZZK records. 

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 support system. Subscribe to The Mess: Imara’s Guide to Our Political Hellscape on Apple Podcasts.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:Moss the Doula: Instagram (@mossthedoula)Marea Goodman: Instagram (@pregnanttogether.community)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.Translash Team: Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway. Xander Adams is our Senior Sound Engineer and a contributing producer.Morgan Astbury is our Social Media Coordinator. Hillary Esquina is our Director of Digital Media and Social. Theme music composed by Ben Draghi.

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 experience building an off-grid lifestyle. He opens up about the learning curve of homesteading and his decision to pack it all up and live in an Airstream. Subscribe to The Mess: Imara’s Guide to Our Political Hellscape on Apple Podcasts.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:Safe Combinations: Instagram (@safecombinationsme) Mercury Stardust: Instagram (@mercurystardusttopz) TikTok (@mercurystardust) Threads (@mercurystardusttopz)Flint Del Sol: Instagram (@justflintisfine) TikTok (@justflintisfine) TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.Translash Team: Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway. Xander Adams is our senior sound engineer and a contributing producer.Morgan Astbury is our social media coordinator. Hillary Esquina is our Director of Digital Media & Social.Theme music composed by Ben Draghi.

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 understanding of our own complexity, rather than to sort people into pre-determined categories.Subscribe to The Mess: Imara’s Guide to Our Political Hellscape on Apple Podcasts.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:Marisol Vibración: Instagram (@marisolvibracion)Chani Nicholas: Instagram (@chaninicholas), TikTok (@chaninicholas), Bluesky (@chaninicholas)Michael J. Morris: Instagram (@cowitchcraftofferings)TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.Translash Team: Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway. Xander Adams is our senior sound engineer and a contributing producer.Morgan Astbury is our social media coordinator.