Power Beyond Pride

Description:In this episode, Mattie Bynum and Shane Lucas sit down with Dr. Demetre Daskalakis to explore his journey from a curious kid with a doctor’s kit to a national leader in public health. He shares how witnessing the HIV/AIDS crisis firsthand shaped his life’s mission and why community care remains central to his work. The conversation dives into the politicization of public health, the erosion of trust in institutions, and what it means to rebuild systems rooted in community. With humor and honesty, they unpack how queer communities can rely on “muscle memory” to navigate today’s challenges. The episode leaves listeners with a call to stay persistent, engaged, and grounded in collective power.Guest descriptors:Insightful, Bold, GroundedEpisode tags:#PublicHealth #HIVPrevention #LGBTQHealth #CommunityCare #activism #GenderAffirmingCare #HealthcareSystems #QueerAdvocacy #HarmReduction #SexualHealthTags again:#PublicHealth #HIVPrevention #LGBTQHealth #CommunityCare #activism #GenderAffirmingCare #HealthcareSystems #QueerAdvocacy #HarmReduction #SexualHealthTags again:#PublicHealth #HIVPrevention #LGBTQHealth #CommunityCare #activism #GenderAffirmingCare#HealthcareSystems #QueerAdvocacy #HarmReduction #SexualHealth

Kate d'Adamo joins Melody KG and Danielle W.K. Lee to break down what actionable, community-centered advocacy looks like in practice. From her work with Reframe Health and Justice, Kate shares how organizing grounded in harm reduction and equity can create real impact. She emphasizes the importance of local engagement, building interdependent networks, and moving beyond performative activism. The conversation also explores how DEI work can evolve by focusing on equity-driven, localized solutions rather than one-size-fits-all approaches. Listeners walk away with tangible ways to build community, challenge systems, and lead with intention.Guest descriptors:Radical, Grounded, InsightfulEpisode tags:#SexWorkAdvocacy #HarmReduction #queeridentity #communitybuilding #Carcerality #socialjustice #mutualaid #DEI #equity #activismTags again:#SexWorkAdvocacy #HarmReduction #queeridentity #communitybuilding #Carceralit #socialjustice #mutualaid #DEI #equity #activismTags again:#SexWorkAdvocacy #HarmReduction #queeridentity #communitybuilding #Carcerality #socialjustice #mutualaid #DEI #equity #activism

Court Byer( she/they) joins Mattie and Shane bringing both heart and strategy to a conversation about queerness, humanism, and the power of community care. They reflect on growing up feeling “different,” navigating political spaces that felt transactional, and ultimately redefining their values outside traditional systems. The episode highlights the importance of mutual aid, moral courage, and creating spaces that include both faith and non-faith perspectives. Listeners will hear how the Empathy Project is lowering barriers to activism by offering funding and tools for grassroots service work. The takeaway is clear: meaningful change starts small, grows through connection, and is sustained by people who show up for one another.Guest descriptors:Insightful, Grounded, ProvocativeEpisode tags:#humanism #queeridentity #activism #communitybuilding #empathyproject #secularism #politics #mutualaid #LGBTQ #socialchangeTags again:#humanism #queeridentity #activism #communitybuilding #empathyprojec #secularism #politics #mutualaid #LGBTQ #socialchangeTags again (tab-separated):#humanism #queeridentity #activism #communitybuilding #empathyproject #secularism #politics #mutualaid #LGBTQ #socialchange

In this Reply All episode, Shane, Kenyon, and Mattie move from breaking news into the personal stakes behind it—what it feels like to live inside systems that can shift overnight. They celebrate a federal court block protecting access to gender-affirming care for trans youth, while naming how fragile “wins” can feel when other rulings and policies move in the opposite direction. The conversation turns toward what protest can (and can’t) do, and what it takes to build power beyond showing up. From there, they explore how comfort with solitude can shape loyalty in relationships, and how wealth and gender presentation can change someone’s experience inside queer spaces. The episode closes with a listener question about dating someone “not into politics,” and the co-hosts unpack why that can signal privilege, disconnection, or simply a mismatch in values.

Michael Barrett Jones - Activist, Director of a Nonprofit and Storyteller —joins Mattie Bynum and Shane Lucas as he shares a powerful journey from grassroots HIV activism to leading fundraising efforts that center equity and inclusion. Reflecting on his time at Iris House, he unpacks how women of color were historically excluded from funding and strategy conversations—and what it means to challenge that. He also opens up about how his drag persona, Witty Repartee, helped him find confidence and voice in both performance and advocacy spaces. Through humor and honesty, Michael illustrates how identity, art, and activism intersect in his life. This episode is a story of growth, accountability, and using your platform with intention.Guest descriptors:Insightful, Theatrical, UnapologeticEpisode tags:#philanthropy #LGBTQ #activism #Fundraising #Strategy #HIVadvocacy #racial #equity #drag #performance #community #organizing #socialjustice #nonprofitleadership #queervoicesTags again:#philanthropy   #fundraisingstrategy    #HIVadvocacy #racialequity #dragperformance #communityorganizing #socialjustice #nonprofitleadership #queervoicesTags again:#LGBTQ #activism #fundraisingstrategy #philanthropy  #HIVadvocacy #racialequity #dragperformance #communityorganizing #socialjustice #nonprofitleadership #queervoices

Miss Mei  (they/them) — co-founder and executive director of Decrim305 and a 14-year sex worker — joins co-hosts Mattie Bynum and Shawn Aaron to share the origin story of Miami’s most unapologetic sex worker advocacy org. Born out of the George Floyd protests in 2020, Decrim305 launched with a Slut Walk that nobody expected to pop — and it did. Mei traces the through-line from Josephine Baker and Marsha P. Johnson to the streets of Miami, making the case that sex workers have always been at the center of liberation movements. This episode is a love letter to the people who keep showing up, even when the community refuses to show up for them.

This episode explores Two-Spirit identity as both spiritual and gendered, and how Indigenous frameworks can expand what many people think they know about gender, community, and sacredness. In a discussion with co-hots Melodie KG and Mattie Bynum, Soul connects personal deconstruction from Christianity with a broader decolonizing shift—moving from “invisibility as safety” to visibility that demands new courage and new boundaries. They name how oppression tactics in today’s political climate aren’t new from an Indigenous perspective, and argue that liberation requires listening to Indigenous leadership and supporting sovereignty. Soul also speaks candidly about losing “allies” over political differences, and why long-term ethics matter more than performative belonging. Throughout, Melodie and Mattie hold space for complexity while affirming that pride is more than a parade—it’s daily power.

Author and HIV Activist Mark S. King shares with co-hosts Mattie Bynum and Shane Lukas a clear framework for movement work: credibility comes from truth-telling, and leadership means learning to hand the microphone to someone else. He breaks down what mentorship can look like in practice—spotting talent, offering encouragement, making introductions, and helping amplify voices without strings attached. The co-hosts also discuss how queer communities can respond when funding and infrastructure are stripped away, especially around HIV prevention and care access. Mark points to voting as a key lever to “stop the bleeding,” alongside showing up in community and staying engaged beyond the moments that feel urgent for the most privileged. The episode ends with a call to participation: keep building, keep advocating, and don’t confuse visibility with safety.

Domenico Ruggiero shares with co-hosts Hunter and Mattie Bynum how his leadership began “at the margins” as a first-gen, biracial, queer student from an immigrant background who often felt like he didn’t fully belong anywhere. He describes becoming a bridge-builder across siloed campus spaces, a throughline that shaped his career in multicultural and LGBTQ centers before leading We Are Family in South Carolina. Domenico reflects on how working alongside queer and trans youth has helped him find language for parts of himself he hadn’t named before. Throughout, Hunter and Mattie keep it playful and real while staying rooted in what it takes to build community that’s life-affirming and life-saving.

In this episode, musician and artist Shirlette Ammons digs into what it means to be an interdisciplinary artist—moving between music, poetry, and page-based writing with different tools, stakes, and intentions. She reflects on influences ranging from church music and mass choirs to Janet Jackson, Meshell Ndegeocello, Tribe, De La Soul, Outkast, and Lauryn Hill, describing a “rich” musical palette that shaped her sound. Shirlette also explains how learning about blues singer Gladys Bentley helped her “queer” her approach to hip hop performance and build the project Twilight for Gladys Bentley around the question, “What would Gladys Bentley do?” Co-hosts Daniel WK Lee and Mattie Bynum connect her work to movement-building, emphasizing that there’s “no movement without music,” and Shirlette argues the arts are essential for free thinking and critical thinking—especially when independent thought is being discouraged.

From Kansas ID rollbacks to the State of the Union, co-hosts Mattie Bynum, Melodie KG, Daniel WK Lee, and Shane Lukas discuss how power uses narrative, bureaucracy, and selective “exceptions” to justify broader harm. The co-hosts unpack how “freedom” gets framed as individual impunity rather than collective safety—and how that framing fuels policies like the SAVE Act’s documentation requirements. They connect these moves to older strategies of disenfranchisement, arguing that reducing participation is the point, not a side effect. The episode also explores how protest becomes criminalized when it threatens the story those in power want to tell, including escalating federal responses to anti-ICE organizing in Minnesota. Underneath it all is a warning: when the system tightens, it’s testing how divided—or united—communities will be.

Co-hosts Daniel WK Lee and Kata d’Adamo sit down with Eliazar Posada to talk about what community protection looks like when national politics turn hostile. Eliazar breaks down practical local strategies—non-discrimination ordinances, language access plans, and building trust so people feel safe seeking help. He also reflects on the emotional weight and responsibility of being a “first,” and his commitment to making sure he’s not the last by supporting other queer Latino candidates. At Equality North Carolina, he describes the shift into LGBTQ+ work as an expansion of intersectional movement-building, not a departure from immigrant rights. A rapid-fire round brings levity, then the hosts share ways to stay connected and support the mission.

Mattie Bynum and Shane Lukas welcome Ryan Cassata (along with bandmates Top Surgeons, Kyle and Lauren) to talk about life on tour and the surprising ways different cities show up for queer communities. They dig into why house shows feel intimate, safer, and more sustaining—especially when traditional venues and platforms feel shaky. Ryan reflects on the long arc of trans and queer musician visibility, and how the internet helped shift who gets to be seen and heard. The episode closes with a playful speed round (comfort foods, rainy days, first dates, LA spots) and a clear through-line: building spaces where people can show up fully.

Savannah Sly brings a movement-builder’s lens to the question of what actually changes things—beyond catharsis—by pairing passion with strategy, mentorship, and resources. She reflects on how she learned to communicate about s** work in ways people could hear, and how stigma shifts depending on the language people use (and the assumptions they bring). The hosts dig into how anger shows up across “sides,” and why meaningful progress requires both firm advocacy and the ability to talk across differences. Savannah explains New Moon Network’s work raising and distributing funds, educating philanthropy, and supporting advocates with training and an awards pool for unpaid labor. The episode ends with practical ways listeners and organizers can show up: invite s** worker advocates into your spaces, connect the dots to bodily autonomy, and reject policing as a default response to harm.

This Reply All episode of Power Beyond Pride brings Mattie Bynum, Kenyon Farrow, and Shane Lukas together to unpack what it means to organize, stay connected, and tell the truth in a moment of escalating harm. Kenyon frames the rapid mobilization in Minneapolis as a continuation of the 2020 George Floyd uprisings, arguing that visible “mass response” is built through sustained, long-term organizing—not spontaneous outrage. The hosts connect that lesson to queer and trans strategy: LGBTQ+ organizations and community members can’t only show up when an issue is explicitly labeled “LGBTQ,” because immigrant justice and queer justice are intertwined.Shane and Mattie name the layered risks facing LGBTQ+ immigrants, especially trans and nonbinary people in detention, including misclassification, abuse, and the broader ripple effects of fear—people avoiding healthcare, work, and school. Mattie shares the emotional toll of staying informed and the need to manage anger and overwhelm without disconnecting from community.The conversation turns to whether progress for LGBTQ+ people has stalled or reversed. Kenyon points to coordinated right-wing messaging and a lack of effective counter-narratives from Democrats, while Shane argues backlash also reflects deeper cultural discomfort and unresolved internalized bias, even within LGBTQ+ communities. Mattie questions whether acceptance ever truly arrived, suggesting representation grew faster than real respect.In the mailbag, they discuss how media narratives name (or erase) queer identity in stories of violence, and close with practical steps: know your rights, don’t isolate, share location with someone trusted, memorize key phone numbers, and shorten the time between harm and community response.

Co-hosts Daniel W.K. Lee and Kenyon Farrow talk with podcaster Randy Kim about what it took to feel whole inside his intersecting identities as Vietnamese, Khmer, queer, and American—especially after growing up without language fluency and with pressure to assimilate. Randy shares how finding queer Asian community helped unlock a deeper sense of belonging across Vietnamese and Khmer spaces. He reflects on learning Vietnamese later in life, letting go of perfectionism, and treating language as a path to connection. The conversation keeps returning to what it means to show up bravely, without apologizing for complexity.

In this episode, Co-hosts Mattie Bynum and Kate d'Adamo sit down with Jessie Cockerham, a therapist and founder of Wolf’s Refuge Counseling and Healing Services in North Carolina. Jessie shares how growing up in Appalachia shaped their understanding of trauma, survival, and community care—and what it means to heal in the same places that harmed you. They break down modalities like DBT and EMDR in plain language, with a focus on helping LGBTQ+ and BIPOC clients peel back protective layers built for survival. Jessie also introduces eco-therapy practices that reconnect people to nature as a living relationship, not just a backdrop. The conversation closes with practical grounding tools for staying regulated in a political climate designed to keep us in fear.

On Power Beyond Pride, Melodie KG and Shane Lukas welcome Susanna Shaul, a NYC-based art director and designer with deep roots in immigrant advocacy and LGBTQ+ community support. Susanna describes how queer and immigrant justice work often runs on parallel tracks, even though many asylum seekers are fleeing anti-LGBTQ+ persecution. She shares sobering examples of how fear is shaping community life—from immigrants being discouraged from attending Pride for safety reasons, to ICE showing up at a Queens high school.

Rodrigo Brandão joins co-hosts Kate d'Adamo and Daniel W.K. Lee to explore the evolving role of media, activism, and art in driving social change. Rodrigo recounts his path from film student to communications leader, highlighting the value of storytelling and community in organizing. The episode examines the struggle for independent journalism, the strategic use of social media, and the need for inclusive coalitions. Listeners gain insight into Rodrigo’s philosophy of joyful, art-infused activism and the lessons learned from both Brazilian and American movements.

The sugar cookies get extra sprinkles with this December Reply All episode recorded LIVE at the end of 2025 featuring Mattie Bynum, Kenyon Farrow, Daniel W.K. Lee, and Shane Lukas as the team concludes with a "year-in-review" analysis of the most overlooked and over-focused LGBTQ+ stories of 2025, including the impact of government funding cuts on HIV/AIDS programs and the often-ignored role of class within the queer community. Despite the year's hardships, the hosts share their personal highlights—from literary awards to returning to the acting stage—and set their intentions for continued advocacy and community building in 2026. +4

Shawn Aaron takes the guest seat in conversation with co-hosts Mattie Bynum and Shane Lukas to discuss the origins of his organization, Dem Bois Inc., which advocates for access to gender-affirming care and surgeries for trans men of color. He shares deeply personal accounts of past homelessness and family struggles, emphasizing his core philosophy that "visibility equals possibility". By being open about his own story, Shawn aims to be a beacon for others who may currently be in difficult circumstances, showing them that a different future is possible. 

In this episode, co-host team members Mattie Bynum and Shane Lukas talk with The New York Times-lauded author Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore about the "urgency" of queer storytelling and the importance of refusing the terms of dominant culture. Mattilda describes their process of meshing fiction with historical reality to capture the "spectacular intimacy" of queer life in the 1980s and 90s.They share how their early experiences with sex work and the AIDS crisis shaped their commitment to "experimental" writing and vulnerability plus shares insights into their most recent critically-celebrated book 'Terry Dactyl'.

In this episode, podcast co-host team members Mattie Bynum and Daniel W.K. Lee hang out with William Torres Fuentes to discuss the "rainbow of colors" in Puerto Rican culture and how moving to North Carolina forced him to redefine his identity in his 30s and 40s. He details the specific challenges facing the undocumented community, such as the fear that ICE raids create, which often prevents people from seeking life-saving medical care . William explains how he uses creative solutions like virtual appointments and pharmacy shipping to ensure his clients remain healthy despite these external threats. He also stresses the importance of advocacy, recounting his time at "AIDS Watch" on Capitol Hill fighting for PrEP access and continued funding for programs like HOPWA.

Kitty Stryker, activist, journalist, and author of Ask: Building Consent Culture, joins co-hosts Shane Lukas and Hunter to delve into the complex conversation surrounding consent culture. She shares the origins of her work in the Bay Area kink community, her background driving attention to mutual aid and the importance of sustainable communities, and embracing accountability to move closer to a full consent culture.

"Tub Talks" vlogger and therapist Damon Jacobs shares the evolution of sexual health conversations, the impact of PrEP, and the importance of integrating personal and political positions for a more satisfying life with co-hosts Mattie Bynum and Kate d'Adamo.

As the founder of the Outlaw Project, Monica Jones shares her story with hosts Mattie Bynum and Shane Lukas, detailing how her lived experience and the impact of activist Sharmus Outlaw the organization's work on secure housing, harm reduction, and policy to support trans people.

Co-hosts Kenyon Farrow, Mattie Bynum, Melodie KG, and Shane Lukas explore the struggles faced in memorializing trans lives, the comfort found in chosen family for LGBTQ+ people during the holidays, and the urgent need for community vigilance and non-compliance trainings against federal enforcement actions like ICE raids. Plus, we take listener questions to the classroom!

Stephen Fletcher, Director of Victim Services for the Family Service of the Piedmont, joins hosts Mattie Bynum and Shane Lukas to discuss his career evolution from LGBTQ+ outreach specialist to his current role, emphasizing that the field "picked" him. 

Community organizer Melvy Shaw meets with Mattie Bynum and Kate d'Adamo to discuss the importance of cross-community solidarity, her work with the North Carolina's Guilford Green Foundation amidst the challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community, and channeling her creativity into music and photo magic.

Palestinian American writer and organizer Thafer Abu Qamir chats with Daniel W.K. Lee and Shane Lukas about co-founding NOLA Freedom Forum and the Palestinian Youth Movement in New Orleans to educate people on the interconnectedness of liberation struggles and to create a space for queer Palestinians, his views on how to create a more inclusive and just world that recognizes the significance of Palestinian storytelling, and how writing plays an important role in his own life practice.

This monthly Reply All episode features hosts Kate d'Adamo, Daniel Lee, and Shane Lukas discussing the balance between symbolic activism (such as rainbow crosswalks and murals) and material policy change, prompted by the attempted removal of the Montrose (Houston) crosswalks. They explore whether a focus on symbols can overshadow more consequential political work. The hosts also critique tokenized LGBTQ+ leaders, specifically addressing figures like Bari Weiss, arguing that representation only matters if it is grounded in shared values and not just identity politics. Finally, they take audience questions and offer advice on how to vet potential sponsors and prioritize making a sustained, local impact in activist work.

Dominique Jackson joins co-hosts Mattie Bynum and Shane Lukas to discuss her career, activism, and mental health advocacy, drawing on her own life experiences. The Pose superstar reflects on the power of visibility for Black trans women, her deep commitment to mental health informed by her work as a community organizer, and her upcoming film launching this weekend: the majority queer-cast horror film Queens of the Dead from director Tina Romero.

Artist and activist Carlo Quispe discusses his journey in using comics to explore queer and Latinx identity, challenge censorship, and advocate for social change with co-hosts Mattie Bynum and Kenyon Farrow.

LGBTQ and human rights activist Pauline Park joins co-hosts Daniel WK Lee and Kate d'Adamo as she shares about the critical need to move beyond representational politics and dismantle systemic oppressions, including capitalism and apartheid.

Your hosts Mattie Bynum, Kenyon Farrow, Melodie KG, and Shane Lukas explore the idea of rhetorical consistency and responsibility in political movements, prompted by a surprisingly inclusive statement from the NRA supporting universal gun access regardless of gender identity as well as take audience questions.

Terrell Dungee, a community organizer with the Carolina Federation and the American Friends Service Committee as well as community grassroots activist, talks with hosts Kenyon Farrow and Melodie KG to discuss his passion for social justice, his "inherently queer" agenda, and the network of care, discovery, and celebration he nurtures to keep it moving forward.

Tay and Val, founders of Modern Mind Labs, discuss their life's work with hosts Melodie KG and Shane Lukas. The conversation navigates the power of creating brave and inclusive spaces by meeting people where they are and focusing on shared humanity rather than divisions as well as the couple's balancing of work, growth, and keeping their relationship full of adventure.

Tania Jimenez, Executive Director of Asheboro Latinx Services, chats with co-hosts Mattie Bynum and Shane Lukas to discuss her work empowering the trans+ and Latine communities, advocating for transgender and immigrant rights, and building affirming spaces in North Carolina and throughout the country for translatinas.

Scientist Dr. Shuntai Zhao joins co-hosts Mattie Bynum and Shane Lukas to share the insights on the current state and possibilities of HIV research, the challenges of funding in science, and the critical role of communication between scientists and the public.

This monthly "Reply All" episode features members of the co-host team (Mattie Bynum, Kate d'Adamo, and Daniel WK Lee) discussing the political optics of Meta's new anti-woke AI advisor and a Pete Buttigieg's remarks on trans athletes, as well as the importance of community support for activists. The team also takes listener questions and invites you to submit yours!

S**worker and activist Laura LeMoon chats with hosts Mattie Bynum and Daniel W.K. Lee about her journey as a trafficking survivor, adult industry worker and advocate, and internationally recognized queer artist, highlighting the personal and systemic hurdles faced in social justice as well as what we can all use to move LGBTQ+ rights and intersections forward.

Daniel Valdez, Chief External Affairs Officer at Welcoming America and Charlotte Pride board member, shares his personal journey as a Mexican-American, nonprofit leadership, and insights about the changing dynamics of large scale pride events in 2025 with co-hosts Mattie Bynum and Shane Lukas.

Mattie, a comedian, actress, and advocate chats with co-hosts Kenyon Farrow and Hunter to share about he identity journey, the important role faith plays in her life, and how to process past experiences while encouraging others to embrace their voices and drive societal transformation.

Join Power Beyond Pride co-host team members Daniel WK Lee and Kate D'Adamo as they explore the dynamic landscape of queer liberation and activism with Shane Lukas, an award-winning designer, public speaker, and grassroots activist dedicated to fighting for bodily freedoms and bold ideas.

Miguel Camnitzer, a writer and anti-genocide activist, joins co-hosts Daniel W.K. Lee and Mattie Bynum to discuss the overrepresentation of LGBTQ+ people among unhoused populations, the necessity of universal programs like Medicare for All, and the importance of intersectional approaches to social justice.

Award-winning advocate Kassia Graham joins Power Beyond Pride co-hosts Melodie KG and Daniel W.K. Lee to share insights on their lifelong connection to cannabis, its healing properties, and the need to dismantle capitalist notions in pursuit of true community support.

Co-hosts Mattie Bynum, Melodie KG, and Shane Lukas delve into recent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, highlighting how these issues directly impact the real safety and development of all youth, respond to ramped up attacks on queer and trans+ people from the recent headlines, and reach into the mailbag to reply to listener questions.

This episode gets to know Power By Pride co-host Kenyon Farrow on the challenges faced by non-profits due to government actions and the importance of community activism. Interviewed by co-hosts Daniel W.K. Lee and Mattie Bynum, delves into the critical impact of government policies on global health organizations like AVAC, detailing how executive orders have disrupted vital work in equitable access to biomedical prevention, particularly in Eastern and Southern Africa. Farrow also shares his journey as a prolific essayist and author, reflecting on his origins as a dancer and actor, and how his activism evolved into communications and media strategy for social justice causes.

Join Victoria Knight as the engineer and Humanist speaks with co-hosts Hunter and Shane Lukas about the intersection of her philosophical life and gender identity, her work in tech and community, and her vision for a more inclusive society.

Melodie KG, a published author, speaker, and activist, talks with co-hosts Mattie Bynum and Shane Lukas about her work bridging community-level activism with institutional philanthropy to advance sex worker rights, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and self-discovery in her journey. The conversation also explores the complex relationship between grassroots organizing and institutional philanthropy, highlighting Melodie's role in bridging these gaps to foster significant movement growth and decriminalization efforts.