Share

cover art for Trans Powerlifting

TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones

Trans Powerlifting

Season 4, Ep. 98
•

As political attacks on trans athletes escalate, trans powerlifters are continuing to push their sport forward. In this episode, Imara talks with two competitive powerlifters who are breaking records and fighting for their right to compete. First, she’s joined by two-time national champion, JayCee Cooper, who outlines her years-long legal battle with USA Powerlifting over her experience of discrimination by the organization. Next she talks with the World’s Strongest Trans Man, Scott Percy, about what that title means to him and how he hopes to inspire other transmasculine people to compete.


Make sure to check out TransLash Media’s new show The Mess: Imara’s Guide to Our Political Hellscape. You can subscribe by getting a TransLash Fam membership in Apple Podcasts. Just scroll to the top of this show in the Apple Podcasts app to find the subscribe button. 


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!

Ilya Parker: Instagram (@decolonizing_fitness)

JayCee Cooper: Instagram (@jayceeisalive)

Scott Percy: Instagram (@fluffy757_)


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.

Oliver Whitney is our social media producer.

Digital strategy by Daniela Capistrano.

Theme Music: Ben Draghi and ZZK records. 



More episodes

View all episodes

  • 178. SCOTUS Hears Trans Sports Arguments

    57:02||Season 6, Ep. 178
    The Supreme Court heard two landmark cases this week, Hecox v. Little and West Virginia v. BPJ. These two cases are bundled together to decide the same question: whether trans girls can have equal access to public school sports. Imara was inside the courtroom to witness the intense legal discussions. Today’s episode breaks down what could happen when the Court rules later this summer, and the far-reaching consequences the rulings could have for bodily autonomy. First, she speaks with Sasha Buchert, a senior attorney at Lambda Legal who helped with both of these cases. Then, she sits down with Andraya Yearwood, a former student athlete who was targeted by anti-trans groups in 2018. 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)Check out our guests on social media:@lambdalegal@andrayayearwood

  • 177. Anti-Trans Sports Bans Head to SCOTUS with Chase Strangio

    31:46||Season 6, Ep. 177
    The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in two pivotal cases about whether the government can discriminate against trans women and girls in athletics. Imara sits down with Supreme Court veteran and civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio, unpacking the strategy being used to challenge state laws than ban trans girls from playing sports. In this necessary conversation exploring what’s at stake in Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.J.P., the pair unpack how the right-wing actors taking aim at trans girls actually have their sights set on a much bigger target: the Equal Protection Clause and, ultimately, democracy itself. 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)Check out our guest on social media:@chasestrangio

  • Replay: Trans Rest and Wellness

    01:03:24|
    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.

  • 175. Replay: Trans Comedy as Resistance

    01:03:20||Season 5, Ep. 175
    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 depression and making jokes about being trans. Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast@translash.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!Mx. Dahlia Belle: Instagram (@mx.dahliabelle)Ally Beardsley: Instagram (@allybeardsley @genderspiral)Robin Tran: Instagram (@robintran04)TransLash Podcast is produced by Translash Media.

  • 174. Identity Politics with James Carville

    26:09||Season 5, Ep. 174
    As the Democratic party decides what strategy to take in an era of increasing authoritarianism, many have advocated for turning away from identity politics and defending trans people in an effort to win elections. This week, Imara dives into this conversation with James Carville, a political legend and arguably the most influential voice in the democratic party. 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)Check out our guest on social media: https://www.instagram.com/politicon https://bsky.app/profile/politicon.comhttps://www.threads.com/@politiconhttps://www.facebook.com/Politiconhttps://www.youtube.com/politicon

  • 173. Shop Trans For the Holidays 2025

    46:22||Season 5, Ep. 173
    The holiday season is upon us and we wanted to take a moment to highlight trans owned small businesses that you can check out for your last minute holiday shopping. First, Auston Bjorkman, founder and creative director behind Transguy Supply shares that there's no single path to starting a business and having community can help get dreams started off the ground. Then, Imara speaks with the founder of Ms. Tea, Laurel Birch, an herbalist who crafts elixirs, tisanes, and a variety of other botanical products.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: @transguysupply@msteabotanica

  • 172. Nationwide Crack Down on Homelessness Leaves Trans People Vulnerable

    56:39||Season 5, Ep. 172
    Trans people are more likely to experience homelessness than others. Which means trans folks are impacted at a higher rate by new federal policies that target people living in precarious housing situations. In this episode, Imara speaks with Dr. Dilara Yarbrough, an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Studies at San Francisco State University, who helps unpack Trump’s recent crackdown on homeless encampments in D.C. and the larger systems at play. Then, Atlanta organizer Jamie Roberts shares how her group works to address the needs of trans people in the South and what has to happen to end homelessness overall. 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 Jamie Roberts on social media: Bluesky: @clairejune.bsky.social

  • 171. Trans Opera Singer Trailblazer

    42:59||Season 5, Ep. 171
    Happy Thanksgiving from TransLash. We’re grateful for all the trailblazers who continue to break ground in every field all across the country. In today's episode, Imara speaks to one of those stars, Breanna Sinclairé, a professional opera singer and soprano, about her journey into the opera world. She has performed around the world and she was even the first trans woman to sing the US national anthem for a national sporting event. Imara and Breanna discuss the highs and lows of being trans within the world of classical music and opera.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: Instagram @breannaelycesinclaire   X @breasinclaire Facebook- Breanna Elyce Sinclaire   TikTOK: @breannaelycesinclaire

  • 170. Trans Day of Remembrance in an Era of Political Violence

    34:18||Season 5, Ep. 170
    On Trans Day of Remembrance, we honor the trans people who have had their lives cut short by violence. Imara speaks with notable changemaker in the trans rights movement Kylar Broadus. Kylar was the first out transgender American to testify before the United States Senate and has been honored for his legal work by the City of New York and the LGBT Bar Association of Los Angeles, among others. Together, they process what it means to commemorate this day during an era of heightened anti-trans rhetoric, attacks on healthcare and all out political assault. Kylar shares how he came to practice law while advocating for civil rights and reflects on the importance of multigenerational community.For Trans Awareness week, TransLash Media is celebrating trans brilliance across generations with a new zine: Transcestors & Trailblazers: 30 Lives, 30 Legacies. You can find it at translash.org/zines 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: X - @KylarBroadus; Facebook - Kylar Broadus