Twin Cities Pride Amplified

Join Andi, Rina, and Kelsey as they process a difficult week in Minnesota, finding hope in how the community has rallied together with mutual aid and quiet acts of bravery. They share moving stories from their local food pantry—from Senator Tina Smith stopping by to help to a FedEx driver who’s also a jazz pianist—proving… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 106: Finding Bravery and Community in the Heart of Minnesota first appeared on AM 950.

Andy, Rina, and Kelsey sit down for a raw conversation about the difficult start to 2026, opening up about the tough decision to cancel Half Way to Pride due to safety concerns. They share an emotional look behind the scenes at how the organization pivoted overnight to turn their office into an emergency food pantry… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 105: Behind the Decision to Cancel Half Way to Pride first appeared on AM 950.

Andi Otto, Rina Heisel, and Kelsey Alto confront the heavy reality of recent violence and federal enforcement actions impacting the Minnesota community. They announce the cancellation of the Halfway to Pride celebration to prioritize safety while doubling down on essential mutual aid efforts like the Pride Cultural Arts Center food pantry. The conversation centers on… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 104: Community Resilience in a Time of Crisis first appeared on AM 950.

Hosts Andi Otto, Rina Heisel, and Kelsey Alto open the 2026 season by discussing the importance of mental health and finding joy in holiday hobbies like Lego building and queer pop culture. They provide a deep dive into recent federal legislative challenges facing the transgender community, specifically regarding funding restrictions for gender-affirming healthcare and new… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 103: Legos, Legislation, and the Fight for Trans Healthcare first appeared on AM 950.

This episode originally aired April 3, 2025: Andi and Rina visit with Ollin Montes and Karen Hogan from Quatrefoil Library, which has a unique history in the Twin Cities. Its role in the LGBTQ+ community continues to grow and is more important than ever! Listen and learn more!  https://qlibrary.org/ The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 102 (Encore): Quatrefoil Library first appeared on AM 950.

Andi Otto, Rina Heisel, and Kelsey Alto review a tumultuous 2025, discussing the “bingo card of doom” that included viral fame, severe weather, and navigating anti-trans legislation. They share behind-the-scenes insights on pivoting the Pride Cultural Art Center and the Career Fair to better serve the community while managing staff burnout and funding challenges. They… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 101: Navigating the Bingo Card of Doom in 2025 first appeared on AM 950.

Andi Otto, Rina Heisel, and Kelsey Alto deliver a heartfelt 2025 retrospective, diving into the impact of the Pride Cultural Art Center, the Rainbow Wardrobe’s success, and the massive volunteer effort that powered the year’s events. They candidly discuss the financial realities of running a non-profit, explaining how every dollar from festival fees to donations… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 100: Looking Ahead in 2026 with Regional Summits, Bingo Balls, & Hillary Clinton first appeared on AM 950.

Andi Otto, Rina Heisel, and Kelsey Alto reflect on the challenges and triumphs of 2025, from navigating severe festival weather to distributing thousands of pounds of food. They break down the year’s impact report, highlighting massive volunteer efforts, the emotional resonance of Youth Night, and TC Pride’s dedication to supporting local LGBTQ+ and BIPOC businesses.… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 99: How We Stretched Every Dollar for the Community in 2025 first appeared on AM 950.

Andi Otto, Rina Heisel, and Kelsey Alto kick things off with a hilarious “guide dog” mishap and a chaotic turkey trot story before pivoting to a thoughtful discussion on the evolution of Pride over the last two decades. The trio explores generational shifts in LGBTQ+ identity and the financial realities facing Gen Z, highlighting how… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 98: Turkey Trots, Guide Dogs, and the Evolution of Pride first appeared on AM 950.

Hosts Andi Otto, Rina Heisel, and Kelsey Alto discuss the “wild” political climate, from the Supreme Court’s recent marriage equality decision to divisive online tactics. Andi shares an “Andi Talk” from a recent conference, sparking a deep conversation on what makes a space truly inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community and allies. They argue that true… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 97: Can You See Yourself in This Space? first appeared on AM 950.

Join hosts Andi Otto, Rina Heisel, and Kelsey Alto for a powerful discussion on Trans Day of Remembrance and the violence facing the trans community. Andi shares a raw, personal story about the harassment he recently faced for wearing a “Protect Trans Kids” shirt, illustrating the daily anxieties trans people navigate even in supposed “refuge”… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 96: The Reality of Being Trans first appeared on AM 950.

Andi Otto, Rina Heisel, and Kelsey Alto get real about the heavy emotional toll of the current political climate and the recent government shutdown. They share the powerful, personal story of how TC Pride’s “Trunk or Treat” event unexpectedly transformed into a massive impromptu food drive. It all started with a single, desperate phone call… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 95: How One Call Became 3,200 Pounds of Food first appeared on AM 950.

Hosts Andi Otto, Kelsey Alto, and Rina Heisel get real about the mental health struggles hitting the LGBTQIA+ community and the heavy emotional toll of the current political environment. They discuss how crucial organizations like Twin Cities Pride are for providing community and support, especially with all the legal and legislative attacks targeting queer and… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 94: The Unsinkable Ship of Navigating Mental Health first appeared on AM 950.

Terresa Hardaway, who owns Black Garnet Books and is the Creative Director of Blackbird Revolt, joins hosts Andi Otto, Kelsey Alto, and Rina Heisel to chat about everything she does as an educator, designer, and business owner. Her work focuses on centering Black, queer, and marginalized voices in the fight for social justice and cultural… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 93: Culture, Advocacy, and Community w/ Terresa Hardaway first appeared on AM 950.

Hosts Andi Otto, Kelsey Alto, and Rina Heisel get real about the mental health struggles hitting the LGBTQIA+ community and the heavy emotional toll of the current political environment. They discuss how crucial organizations like Twin Cities Pride are for providing community and support, especially with all the legal and legislative attacks targeting queer and… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 92: The Unsinkable Ship of Navigating Mental Health first appeared on AM 950.

This week Andi Otto and Rina Heisel are joined by Sean Hayes, executive director of Trans Northland. They talk about the challenges rural communities face, the influx of people coming in from out of state seeking refuge, and how Trans Northland is working on building communities that are safe, inclusive and interconnected. The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 91: Highlighting Trans Northland first appeared on AM 950.

Kelsey Alto, the director of programming for Twin Cities Pride, returns to host this week’s show. We had so much fun talking about Andi Otto’s life that we decided to have one more episode on Andi! This time we reflect on Andi‘s last three years as executive director of Twin Cities Pride. What do a… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 90: Reflecting on Andi’s Time as Executive Director first appeared on AM 950.

This week Kelsey Alto takes over the show once again as she continues her conversation with TC Pride executive director Andi Otto. What do drag kings, the Burnsville Mall food court and frosted cookies have in common? Find out this week as dive into the story of Andi’s life! The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 89: Getting to Know Andi Otto (Part 2 of 2) first appeared on AM 950.

This week Kelsey Alto takes over the show as our usual host, Andi Otto, will be in the hot seat! You’ll get to learn a lot more about Andi, including his journey from lesbian to wife to Mom to trans Dad. The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 88: Getting to Know Andi Otto (Part 1 of 2) first appeared on AM 950.

This week Andi and Rina are joined by Dr. Kade Goepferd, the Chief Education Officer and the past Chief of Staff for Children’s Minnesota, the Medical Director of Children’s Minnesota Gender Health Program and a pediatrician in the Children’s Minneapolis Primary Care clinic. We talk about what going back to school means for LGBTQ youth,… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 87: Dr. Kade Goepferd on LGBTQ Youth and Back to School first appeared on AM 950.

This week Andi and Rina get to know Hannah Wydeven, owner of Solcana Fitness in Minneapolis. Solcana is a queer owned, women owned gym designed for all body types. We’ll talk to Hannah about the inspiration behind the gym, their amazing drop dead lift gorgeous event and how you can get involved. The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 86: Hannah Wydeven of Solcana Fitness first appeared on AM 950.

This week Andi Otto gets real about the concerns of the LGBTQ community. Andi shares his perspective on what it’s like to live as a trans person right now, from something simple as taking his kids back to school to attending the State Fair. We’ll also talk about what we can do as a community… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 85: Being LGBTQ in the Current Cultural Climate first appeared on AM 950.

Andi Otto and Rina Heisel are joined by Dobbs DeCorsey, the Director of the Pride Cultural Arts Center. We’ll chat with Dobbs about all the great things happening at the PCAC, what to expect if you stop by for a visit, and how you can get involved. The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 84: Fall 2025 at the Pride Cultural Arts Center first appeared on AM 950.

It’s back to school time! Andi and Rina are joined by Tara Martini of Becoming Together Therapy and Wellness. While it can be exciting, back to school can also bring stress and anxiety, especially for LGBTQ+ students and families. We’ll share tips for smoother transitions to school, how parents can help ease anxiety and ways… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 83: Back to School Tips with Tara Martini first appeared on AM 950.

This week Andi and Rina are joined by Hannah Edwards, executive director of Transforming Families. This incredible Minnesota non profit is doing some great work with transgender, gender non-conforming and questioning youth along with their families. We’ll talk about their monthly gatherings, upcoming events and support that they offer in Minnesota. The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 82: Hannah Edwards with Transforming Families first appeared on AM 950.

This week Andi Otto and Rina Heisel welcome back Anne Sutkowi-Hemstreet, the founder and director of Rainbow Collective for Change (https://www.rainbowcollectiveforchange.org/), a Twin Cities organziation looking to help connect Rainbow families from allover the area, from rainbow play dates, workshops the new book mobile and more! The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 81: Rainbow Collective for Change first appeared on AM 950.

Andi and Rina are joined by TC Pride’s Director of Programming, Kelsey Alto. Kelsey will tell us all about the great programming coming up this fall as we continue to celebtrate our community. Fall programming includes the career fair, book fair, Trunk or Treat, the epic rainbow wardrobe open house and more! The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 80: TC Pride’s Upcoming Fall Events first appeared on AM 950.

As many of you know, we lost a trans icon and trailblazer in Minnesota recently, Julie Daffyd. In her honor, we’re replaying a conversation we had with Julie on April 13, 2024.   The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 79: (Encore) Remembering Minnesota LGBTQ+ Legend Julie Daffyd first appeared on AM 950.

In part 2 of our series on trans parents, Andi and Rina continue their conversation with two Moms who have some incredible trans and gender fluid children. They’ll talk about navigating family relationships, finding community, communicating with schools and how they became advocates. The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 78: Parents of Trans Kids Part 2 first appeared on AM 950.

This week Andi and Rina talk to two Moms who have some incredible trans and gender fluid children. They’ll talk about what their experience has been like, what do they wish more people understood about their journey and how to navigate what’s happening in 2025. This is the first part in a two part series. The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 77: Parents of Trans Kids Part 1 first appeared on AM 950.

This week Andi and Rina recap Twin Cities Pride 2025! They talk about community award winners, family fun day and everything that went down at the festival and parade. Plus what else is ahead in 2025. The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 76: Pride Weekend Recap first appeared on AM 950.

This week Andi and Rina discuss all things 2025 Twin Cities Pride weekend! You’ll learn about all things from transportation to parking, the Stronger Together Parade and even this year’s new bull ride! Tune in and learn more about this year’s festival. The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 75: Previewing Pride 2025 Weekend! first appeared on AM 950.

This week Andi and Rina are joined by Jillian Hiscock, owner of a Bar of Their Own and TC Pride’s small business owner of the year. We’ll talk about Jillian’s inspiration behind her women’s sports centered bar, how she made it happen and why you should check it out! The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 74: Jillian Hiscock – A Bar of Their Own first appeared on AM 950.

This week Andi and Rina discuss the sponsorship dilemma many Pride festivals are experiencing, including Twin Cities Pride. Some of TC Pride’s sponsors aren’t returning this year, whether it was by their choice or TC Pride’s. It’s a complex situation that’s not all bad news. Andi and Rina will tell you why! The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 73: Pride Sponsorship Dilemma first appeared on AM 950.

This week Andi and Rina visit with Tara Martini from Becoming Together Therapy and Wellness Collective. They’ll talk about the impacts our kids face in the summer months, especially in the LGBTQ+ community. We’ll give you all the tips, tricks and how to prepare for this summer! The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 72: Schools Out! Kids During the Summer Months first appeared on AM 950.

This week Andi and Rina visit with TC Pride’s director of programming, Kelsey Alto. June is fast approching, and TC Pride has lots of events planned, from Cheers to Pride, Family Fun Day, Youth Night and so much more! Tune in for all the details! The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 71: June Events with TC Pride first appeared on AM 950.

This week we highlight the Twin Cities Pride Artist in Residence program. Now in its third year, the program has been expanding in lots of ways! Learn all about it in this episode! The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 70: Twin Cities Pride Artist in Residence Program first appeared on AM 950.

This week is all about the Stronger Together Benefit Concert and Dance Party hosted by Nina DiAngelo on May 30th at Granada Theater. Joining the show will be Richard Herod III with Car Guy Concierge to give us all the details and explain why he stepped up and got involved. Learn more and get your… The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 69: Stronger Together Benefit Concert first appeared on AM 950.

This week we dive into one of the most complex conversations within the queer community: The intersection of religion and LGBTQIA identity. Andi and Rina are joined by long time Twin Cities Pride supporter and volunteer Michelle Gunderson, who believes there is room at the table for everyone. The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 68: Religion and LGBTQIA identity first appeared on AM 950.

Andi and Rina are joined by Dt. Kade Goepferd, Chief Education Officer and the Medical Director of Children’s Minnesota Gender Health Program. They’ll talk about what it’s been like managing disinformation regarding gender affirming care and that there is hope on the horizon. The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 67: Gender Affirming Care Disinformation first appeared on AM 950.

This week Andi and Rina bring back Annē Kraus, volunteer manager at Twin Cities Pride. They talk about all the different ways you can step up and support the community, why volunteering is so important, and some perks you probably didn’t think of! The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 66: Why Volunteer with TC Pride first appeared on AM 950.

Today we talk about LGBTQ+ youth and mental healthcare, a very important topic in our community. Ryan Fouts from Reclaim will join as we talk about the challenges youth are facing and how to seek care along with some of the programs that Reclaim offers. Learn more at: https://www.reclaim.care/ The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 65: Ryan Fouts from Reclaim on LGBTQ+ Healthcare first appeared on AM 950.

Andi and Rina visit with Ollin Montes and Karen Hogan from Quatrefoil Library, which has a unique history in the Twin Cities. Its role in the LGBTQ+ community continues to grow and is more important than ever! Listen and learn more!  https://qlibrary.org/ The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 64: Quatrefoil Library first appeared on AM 950.

Andi and Rina are joined by Kelsey Alto, director of programming at Twin Cities Pride. They talk about the importance of staying connected to the community, some fun things coming up and how you can get involved. The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 63: Kelsey Alto on TC Pride Events first appeared on AM 950.

This week we learn all about the Aliveness Project. Plus you might just find yourself having dinner with Andi to help support them! The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 62: Aliveness Project first appeared on AM 950.

Andi and Rina have a conversation about addiction and recovery with Caddy Frink of Minnesota Recovery Connection. Whether you’re considering making a positive change for yourself or want to better support a loved one, check out this episode! The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 61: Addiction and Recovery first appeared on AM 950.

Andi and Rina check in with the folks from Twin Cities in Motion. We hear all about their new equity in motion program and other programming they have coming up. Plus we get some tips on how we can all get moving! The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 60: Twin Cities in Motion first appeared on AM 950.

Andi and Rina are joined by Kat Rohn, Executive Director of OutFront Minnesota. They talk about all the things that are impacting the LGBTQ+ community and what these executive orders actually mean for our community in Minnesota and beyond. The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 59: Kat Rohn of OutFront on Trump’s Executive Orders first appeared on AM 950.

Hosts Andi Otto and Rina Heisel get to know Dobbs DeCorsey, aka Miz Diagnosis, the director of the brand new Pride Cultural Art Center (PCAC). We’ll talk about their art, all the great things happening at the PCAC and what you can expect if you stop by for a visit. The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 58: Dobbs DeCorsey aka Miz Diagnosis first appeared on AM 950.

This episode originally aired April 20, 2024: Join us as we welcome back to the program, attorney and author Zaylore Stout. We’re going to visit with Zaylore about a presentation he’s been delivering across the country titled, How Woke Are You? It’s been getting quite the reception, and we’re going to talk all about it. The post Twin Cities Pride Amplified – Ep. 57: Zaylore Stout & How Woke are You? first appeared on AM 950.