Welcome to the TransLash Podcast, a show where we tell trans stories to save trans lives.
At a time when anti-trans attacks are being used to undermine democracy and human rights, award-winning journalist Imara Jones brings you the most important conversations for and about the trans community. From celebrations of trans joy to crystal-clear analysis of the latest political developments to discussions about love and sex, the TransLash Podcast keeps listeners informed and reminds us to never lose hope.
Produced by TransLash Media.
Music: Ben Draghi and also courtesy of ZZK records.
Learn more: translash.org/podcasts/translash-podcast/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to the TransLash Podcast, a show where we tell trans stories to save trans lives.
At a time when anti-trans attacks are being used to undermine democracy and human rights, award-winning journalist Imara Jones brings you the most important conversations for and about the trans community. From celebrations of trans joy to crystal-clear analysis of the latest political developments to discussions about love and sex, the TransLash Podcast keeps listeners informed and reminds us to never lose hope.
Produced by TransLash Media.
Music: Ben Draghi and also courtesy of ZZK records.
Learn more: translash.org/podcasts/translash-podcast/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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.com
https://www.threads.com/@politicon
https://www.facebook.com/Politicon
https://www.youtube.com/politicon
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This month’s elections were a resounding victory for Democrats and a rare sign of hope for many during a dark time where authoritarianism is on the rise. In this episode, Imara dives into the big stories from the recent 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 recent gubernatorial elections in Virginia. Then, journalist Cyril Mychalejko from the Bucks County Beacon unpacks what happened in two politically significant school boards we reported on in this year’s investigation on The Anti-Trans Hate Machine podcast.
Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org
You can listen to The Anti-Trans Hate Machine Podcast here.
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:
Charlotte Woods:
Twitter/X: @charlottewords
Bluesky: @charlottewords.bsky.social
Cyril Mychalejko
Follow on Bluesky @buckscountybeacon.com @cmychalejko.bsky.social
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the TransLash Podcast, Imara shares the latest season of The Anti-Trans Hate Machine, TransLash Media’s investigative series. In this final episode, she and her team investigate how the anti-trans attacks on schools are part of a larger strategy to dismantle public education, and they’re being driven by the most powerful coalition on the right. Join Imara as she learns how the plan to privatize education is flourishing in Arizona and starting to gain momentum across the country. The ultimate goal: use vouchers to destroy public schools — a major pillar of democracy. But the outcome of these efforts is far from a foregone conclusion.
The interviews with Tami Staas and Marisol Garcia in this episode were conducted before the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
To learn more, visit translash.org/antitranshatemachine.
Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on Instagram, Threads, X, and Facebook.
Follow Imara Jones on X (@ImaraJones) and Instagram (@Imara_jones_)
The Anti Trans Hate Machine is produced by TransLash Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the TransLash Podcast, Imara shares Season 4 of The Anti-Trans Hate Machine, TransLash Media’s investigative series about the surge of anti-trans attacks in education and how it’s part of a strategy to upend democracy. In this second episode, Imara travels to Florida, ground zero for the modern anti-trans movement in schools. Join her as she travels to the belly of the beast, exploring the origin and spread of Moms for Liberty, a so-called parental rights group weaponizing anti-trans hate. In this episode, Imara uncovers how the anti-trans movement in schools is directly tied to the January 6 insurrection, revealing a fringe conspiracy theory fueling these efforts by casting trans people as an existential threat to America.
To learn more, visit translash.org/antitranshatemachine.
Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on Instagram, Threads, X, and Facebook.
Follow Imara Jones on X (@ImaraJones) and Instagram (@Imara_jones_)
The Anti Trans Hate Machine is produced by TransLash Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the TransLash Podcast, Imara shares Season 4 of The Anti-Trans Hate Machine, TransLash Media’s investigative series about the surge of anti-trans attacks in education. Join her as she discovers these right-wing attacks are part of a larger strategy to destroy democracy by dismantling public education. She’ll expose the inner workings of this movement and take you into communities fighting back to preserve this critical pillar of democracy. In this first episode, Imara investigates a right-wing effort to take over two school boards in Pennsylvania, throwing a vital swing district into chaos.
To learn more, visit translash.org/antitranshatemachine.
Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on Instagram, Threads, X, and Facebook.
Follow Imara Jones on X (@ImaraJones) and Instagram (@Imara_jones_)
The Anti Trans Hate Machine is produced by TransLash Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Far-right activists have been targeting schools across the country with anti-trans attacks. As we’ve shown in the latest season of The Anti-Trans Hate Machine podcast, their efforts are part of a larger strategy to sow distrust in public education and ultimately privatize it. Today, Imara speaks with two critical sources from TransLash’s investigative series. First, she talks to Eliza Byard, an advocate for LGBTQ+ kids in schools, about how this assault is central to the right-wing authoritarian project to erode democracy. Then, she chats with Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, about how teachers are coping with the weight of the attacks and what communities can do to fight back.
Listen to The Anti-Trans Hate Machine: translash.org/antitranshatemachine
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:
Eliza Byard: Bluesky (@ebyard.bsky.social)
Becky Pringle: Bluesky (@neapresident.bsky.social)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's clear that tech billionaires want AI to be the next tech revolution to change society. How it's being developed and used raises serious questions and concerns around the impact on trans people, especially given the key companies developing these products have very close ties to the Trump administration. First, Imara speaks with Karen Hao, a journalist and bestselling author of Empire of AI, a sweeping investigation into the rise of OpenAI and the global power dynamics of machine intelligence. Then, she chats with Eddie Ungless, a recent Phd graduate in Natural Language Processing, about what it might take to make these technologies safer and more accountable.
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:
Eddie Ungless: Bluesky (@mxeddie.bsky.social)
Karen Hao: Bluesky (@karenhao.bsky.social)
TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.
The Translash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver K., Aubrey C., Rebekah R., Josephine M., Hillary E., and Morgan A.
Lucy L. did the sound editing and engineering for this episode.
Theme music composed by Ben D.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Last month, reports surfaced that the FBI is considering a new domestic terrorism category: “Transgender Ideology-Inspired Violence and Extremism,” or TIVE. In today’s episode, Imara unpacks what that means—and why it’s so dangerous. First, Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss lays out the state of violent extremism across the political spectrum and why the far-right has turned trans people into scapegoats. Then, R.G. Cravens from the Southern Poverty Law Center discusses how a TIVE designation could create permission structures for white supremacist and anti-LGBTQ violence. Despite their dire warnings, both guests also share where they’re finding hope in the fight against domestic violent extremism and disinformation.
Check out Season 3 of the Anti-Trans Hate Machine here.
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)
TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today, we honor the life and legacy of Miss Major Griffin-Gracy (1940-2025), an incomparable leader in the fight for trans liberation. In remembrance, we revisit Imara’s conversation with Miss Major from 2023, in which she reflects on her more than 50 years of activism. Miss Major speaks candidly about the importance of family, the impact of Stonewall, and what it means to sustain a movement in the face of increasing political hostility. As we mourn her passing, we celebrate her extraordinary impact and the countless lives she transformed simply by refusing to give up hope.
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)
TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As the political landscape becomes increasingly hostile, it’s more important than ever to source hope from within ourselves and our communities. This week, Imara uncovers some never-before-heard gems from the trans joy archives. With a focus on the incredible community builders we’ve interviewed over the years, this special episode celebrates strengthening connections, sharing resources, and creating stronger networks of care and resilience. Hear from a musician, parent, pastor and more about what drives them to build and nourish trans community.
Listen to Season 3 of the Anti-Trans Hate Machine here.
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)
TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Some stories of transformation are so powerful they transcend time and place. In this episode, Imara talks with Brazilian actress, writer, and producer Darwin Del Fabro about her career and new solo play Lili/Darwin. The one-woman show intertwines her own journey with that of Lili Elbe, one of the first people to undergo gender confirmation surgery. Darwin reflects on the similarities between Brazil and the U.S. when it comes to trans visibility and violence, why she waited to begin her transition until after establishing her acting career, and the importance of bringing stories like Lili Elbe’s to life on stage.
Vote for TransLash in the Signal Awards for best LGBTQ+ show, LGBTQ+ individual episode, LGBTQ limited series, Thought Leadership individual episode and Activism, Public Service & Social Impact limited series.
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:
Colby Lamson-Gordon: Instagram (@colbylg)
Darwin Del Fabro: Instagram (@darwindelfabro)
TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.
The Translash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Hillary Esquina, and Morgan Astbury.
Lucy Little did the sound editing and engineering for this episode.
Theme music composed by Ben Draghi.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Introducing The Anti-Trans Hate Machine: The Destruction of Public Schools
Right wing forces have taken aim at trans kids in schools, relentlessly targeting some of our country’s most vulnerable youth. In this season, journalist and host Imara Jones investigates this movement, uncovering how these attacks are part of a larger plan to dismantle public education and shatter democracy itself. Join her as she travels across the country to expose the inner workings of this powerful effort uniting Christian Nationalists, conspiracy theorists, extremist paramilitary organizations, conservative business groups, and billionaires in an revelatory investigation exposing what’s really behind the onslaught of anti-trans hate in public schools.
Season 4 of the Anti-Trans Hate Machine premieres October 14.
Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on Instagram, Threads, X, and Facebook.
Follow Imara Jones on X (@ImaraJones) and Instagram (@Imara_jones_)
The Anti-Trans Hate Machine is produced by TransLash Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Department of Homeland Security has quietly rolled back policies that limited surveillance based on gender identity and sexual orientation, raising urgent questions about privacy and government overreach. In this episode, Imara unpacks the history, legal implications, and potential consequences of this shift. First she speaks with legal historian Kate Redburn, who traces the changes in government surveillance of queer communities since World War II. Then, René Kladzyk, senior investigator at the Project on Government Oversight, breaks down how these changes affect current intelligence and enforcement practices and what they could mean for immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities targeted under these policies.
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:
Taylan Stulting: Instagram (@thetranstraveller)
Kate Redburn: Bluesky (@kredburn.bsky.social)
René Kladzyk: Instagram (@ziembavision), Bluesky (@ziembavision.bsky.social), X (@ziembavision)
TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.
The Translash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway, Hillary Esquina, and Morgan Astbury.
Lucy Little did the sound editing and engineering for this episode.
Theme music composed by Ben Draghi.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.