Episode #119: Isa Noyola Returns to Talk About Joy, Justice and Survival When Walking the Edge

In this deeply moving conversation, host Betsy Reed welcomes back longtime friend and activist Isa Noyola, Director of the Border Butterflies Project at the Transgender Law Center, to explore what it means to live, love, and lead on the frontlines of collective liberation. Recorded in October 2025, their conversation travels from shared memories of queer resistance and joy in the American South to the stark realities of immigrant detention and the rising tide of authoritarianism. Through it all, Isa reminds us that trans joy, softness, and connection are radical acts of resistance, and that redefining our relationship with "the monsters" is how we stay human. Together, Betsy and Isa revisit the beginning of their friendship and activism, after meeting at a conservative Christian university, reflect on the resilience of marginalized communities, and discuss how to sustain hope and energy when the world feels overwhelming. It's a powerful, vulnerable, and timely dialogue about courage, community, and the necessity of beauty and joy in dark times. In this episode: Queer resistance and trans liberation in a shifting political landscape The ongoing fight against ICE detention and criminalization of migrants How language, history, and cultural memory shape identity Pacing activism without martyrdom Trans joy and softness as political acts Redefining your relationship with "the monsters" — and finding freedom in that About Isa Noyola Isa Noyola is a first-generation Mexican trans Latina, cultural strategist, and movement visionary focused on collective liberation. She serves as Director of the Border Butterflies Project at the Transgender Law Center, advocating for the release of trans women in ICE detention and the abolition of systems that dehumanize migrant communities. A pioneering activist and national leader in the LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights movements, Issa's work blends fierce care, strategic imagination, and deep compassion to push for systemic change and collective love. Connect with Betsy Instagram: @thebetsyreed Subscribe and leave a review to help more people discover The Discomfort Practice Keep an eye out for Betsy's new Substack community to get her 'hot takes,' deeper reflections and behind-the-scenes insights (coming soon). Please do subscribe, share, and leave a 5-star review if this conversation stretched your comfort zone...