TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones
by TransLash Media
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/
Episodes
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What the Midterm Results Mean for Trans Americans
Imara is joined by V Spehar of Under the Desk News for a live-to-tape breakdown of the midterm election results. How did voters decide on anti-trans ballot measures across the country? How did trans candidates fare? Which Democratic messaging tactics on trans issues worked—and which didn’t? Imara...
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How the WNBA Became a Target for Anti-Trans Activists
This year, in its 30th anniversary season, the WNBA became the unlikely target of anti-trans protests—despite the fact that there are no trans women players in the league. How did we get here? On today’s episode, sports journalist Jemele Hill shares why she thinks the anti-trans protesters don’t...
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What Trump’s Changes to Title IX Really Mean
Recently, Trump’s Department of Education announced changes to Title IX, the law that protects people from sex-based discrimination in federally funded schools. It formally rescinded Biden-era changes that would have protected LGBTQ+ students on the basis of sex. Today, we’re digging into what...
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How Conservatives Use Ballot Measures to Advance Anti-Trans Laws
This November, voters will be faced with anti-trans ballot measures all across the country. What is the purpose of these measures and how are they different from laws introduced in state legislatures? Today, we hear from two people who will help us understand the anti-trans ballot initiatives in...
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Vote 2026: Trans Women on the Ballot
Imara sits down with two trans women running for their respective State Houses of Representatives. And, in an interesting coincidence, both these women are spiritual leaders as well as political hopefuls. Joanna Whaley is running to represent Michigan’s 2nd District on a platform of economic...
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Trans Sex
This week, Imara is joined by Lucie Fielding, author of “Trans Sex: Nurturing Trans Erotic Embodiment and Gender-Pleasure.” Lucie is a therapist and sex educator and is here to answer all of your spiciest questions about trans sex. Lucie shares what exactly makes trans sex special, answers sex...
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Changing Gender with Susan Stryker
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…
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Replay: Rep. Leigh Finke Is Fighting from the Inside
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…
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Replay: A Losing Political Strategy: Anti-Trans Hate
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...
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Replay: River Butcher on Masculinity
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...
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Replay: Trans Gay Love
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…
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Replay: Chani Nicholas and Trans Astrology
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...
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Replay: Shea Couleé Embraces Drag, DJing, and Beyond
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...
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Elliot Page on The Odyssey, Genderqueer Chimpanzees, and Dating in Hollywood
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...
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CATS: The Jellicle Ball
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...
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Trans250: Trans Genocide in America
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,...
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Trans250: The Genderless Religious Leader from 1776
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,...
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Unpacking the SCOTUS Trans Sports Decision
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....
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Bingeworthy Black Trans TV
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…
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The Queens of Queens
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…
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Trans Period Pride
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...
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America’s Trans Migrant Crisis
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...
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The Twinks vs. Dolls Olympics
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…
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Resourcing Trans Dreams
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+...
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Trans Art Under Attack
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...
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Rep. Leigh Finke Is Fighting from the Inside
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...
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Dylan Mulvaney Is Done Being Palatable
What does it mean to be seen by millions and still be figuring out who you are? For multi-hyphenate artist Dylan Mulvaney, it means letting go of the pressure to be palatable. Dylan was already a touring theater actress when she first gained global attention on TikTok with her viral series Days…
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Supreme Court Sets Dangerous Precedent on Conversion Therapy
On March 31st of this year, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a therapist in Colorado who argued that the state’s ban on conversion therapy violated her freedom of speech. While the ruling does not endorse conversion therapy, it does allow the practice to continue, despite the fact that...
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Understanding the Iran War with MS NOW’s Ayman Mohyeldin: Part 2
In this two-part series, Imara sits down with Ayman Mohyeldin of MS Now to break down the history, politics, and power dynamics between Iran, the United States, and Israel. In this second episode, we take a deep dive into Iran’s complex relationships with its Gulf neighbors and examine how...
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Understanding the Iran War with MS NOW’s Ayman Mohyeldin: Part 1
What’s really happening in the Iran war…and why does it feel like we’ve seen this before? After a little over a month of war, a fragile ceasefire is now in place between the United States, Iran, and Israel. But the question isn’t just what happens next; it’s whether we’re repeating the same...
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Making It as a Trans Christian Musician
Easter is this Sunday and we know that, for many in our trans community, faith can be complicated. That’s definitely true for Semler, a queer, nonbinary Christian music artist who grew up a preacher’s kid. Now, Semler draws on both their faith and their queer identity to create a new kind of...
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Visible Trans Love with Angelica Ross
It’s almost time for Trans Day of Visibility! To celebrate, Imara is joined by actress and activist Angelica Ross, who tells us all about her engagement to financé Adebayo Katiiti and contemplates the ups and downs of being a trans celebrity today. This week’s Trans Joy features Marley Gotterer…
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Transmisogyny and the Future of Feminism
March is Women’s History Month, and trans women have made extensive contributions to the field of feminist thought. With women’s and trans rights under attack, it’s more important than ever to remember that these fights are interconnected. This week, Imara speaks with trans feminist writer and...
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Blue States Retreat on Trans Youth Health Care
Since the start of 2026, a string of hospital networks in blue states that legally mandate gender affirming care for trans youth have abruptly ended these programs, leaving thousands of kids and their families in the lurch. What’s worse, more proposed rules from the Department of Health & Human...
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Trans People Train for Self Defense
From Martial arts to gun clubs, trans people are taking their personal safety into their own hands. This week, Imara is joined by two guests to help think through personal safety for trans people and what preparing for self defense can actually look like in an era when faith in law enforcement...
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Anti-ICE Protest Safety for Trans People
The deadly immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, where local communities put themselves on the frontline to resist what amounts to an occupation, has led to trans and queer people being violently detained and retraumatized. Minnesota is where things have boiled over now, but it’s far...
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Pauli Murray is Black History
Happy Black History Month! This week Imara gives some extra love to a queer trailblazer that not too many are familiar with – Pauli Murray – a gender nonconforming attorney, theologist and civil rights activist. Their legal work led to the eventual recognition of sex discrimination under the US...
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Celebrating Trans Love
In this week’s episode, we’re bringing back some conversations from the archives about trans love. Imara chats with Wilson and Miss B Haven of North Carolina about their work in journalism and drag (respectively) and building community in Durham. Then, Imara chats with couple Arthur and Harry…
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Where Does Gender Identity Fit in American Football
The Super Bowl (or should we say the Bad Bunny halftime show, featuring football) is coming up this weekend. While there aren’t any openly trans people participating in the competition, Imara chats with this week’s guest about where trans people fit into one of America’s most popular sports,...
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Shea Couleé Embraces Drag, DJing, and Beyond
We’re teeing up Black history month with a special interview and feel-good conversation with drag star extraordinaire Shea Couleé. In this week’s episode, Imara chats with Shea about their groundbreaking experience as a Black trans drag queen, including their time performing on Drag Race…
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The Future of Trans Sports with Chris Mosier
The issue of trans participation in sports continues to be a major political talking point on the right. Congress has pending legislation that would restrict trans people’s ability to play sports, and hundreds of similar bills have already been introduced this year at the state-level. This week,...
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SCOTUS Hears Trans Sports Arguments
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...
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Anti-Trans Sports Bans Head to SCOTUS with Chase Strangio
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…
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Replay: Trans Rest and Wellness
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...
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Replay: Trans Comedy as Resistance
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....
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Identity Politics with James Carville
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…
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Shop Trans For the Holidays 2025
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…
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Nationwide Crack Down on Homelessness Leaves Trans People Vulnerable
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…
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Trans Opera Singer Trailblazer
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…
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Trans Day of Remembrance in an Era of Political Violence
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...
About this show
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 by
TransLash Media
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