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.

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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 

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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.

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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 

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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.

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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.

Music has always carried the stories of trans lives, yet so much of that history is at risk of being lost. In this episode, Imara speaks with the co-founders of the Trans Music Archive, Ariel Loh and Rowan McDonald, about their groundbreaking endeavor to preserve and celebrate music made by trans artists. Ariel and Rowan share the fateful moment that inspired them to launch the project and why they chose to use vinyl pressings to build the archive in an era of digital streaming. They also dig into the complexities of working with major cultural institutions in this political moment and their decision to remain independent. 

Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org 

Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Facebook.

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Follow our guest on social media: 

CENSORED Dialogue: Instagram (@censoredialogue)

The Trans Music Archive: (@transmusicarchive)

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.

Across the United States, anti-trans laws and rising hostility have forced some families into a heartwrenching decision: leaving their homes behind to keep their children safe. In the newest episode of our ongoing “Families” series, Imara speaks with parents and advocates Lizette and Jose Trujillo about their journey relocating outside the country with their trans son. They share the grief and hope of starting over, the challenges of leaving family and community behind in Arizona, and how they knew when it was time to go.

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: 

Lizette Trujillo: Instagram (@themamiadvocate)

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.

As attacks on trans people continue to escalate across the country, standing up for our rights is more important than ever. In this replay, Imara talks with two people who are fighting back in two states with some of the harshest anti-trans laws. First, she’s joined by the Executive Director of The Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT), Emmett Schelling, who discusses the importance of solidarity with other social justice movements, the challenges of organizing in Texas, and what keeps him motivated to continue the fight. Next, Imara interviews high school math teacher Katie Wood about why she sued the Florida Department of Education and her perspective on the ethical obligation to stand up for what’s right. 

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)

Follow our guests on social media!

Emmett Schelling: X (@transtexas) and Instagram (@transtexas)

TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.

The Translash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway, Hillary Esquina, and Morgan Astbury. 

This episode was sound engineered with help from Lucy Little and Alyssa Midcalf. 

Theme music composed by Ben Draghi.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In honor of what would have been Marsha P. Johnson’s 80th birthday, we’re replaying this conversation with Tourmaline about her book “Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson.” In it, she shares what it took to piece together Marsha’s story, from her early life in Times Square to her radical visions of freedom, spirituality, and care. She also unpacks Marsha’s expansive political imagination, her collaboration with groups like the Black Panthers, and why telling the full truth about her legacy matters more than ever in the face of right-wing historical revisionism. 

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)

Follow our guests on social media:

Caro de Robertis: Instagram (@caro_derobertis)

Tourmaline: Instagram (@tourmaliiine)

TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.

The Translash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway, Hillary Esquina, and Morgan Astbury. 

Xander Adams engineered the original episode, and Lucy Little engineered this replay.

Theme music composed by Ben Draghi.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode replay, Imara is joined by two leading trans scholars to discuss our community’s history and future. First, she talks with historian Dr. Susan Stryker about the last century of trans life and activism in the United States. They discuss why Compton’s Cafeteria Riot has been overlooked in the story of trans history, how to make sense of today’s reactionary politics, and what we can learn from past survivors of oppression. Next, Imara chats with cultural theorist Dr. C. Riley Snorton, who dives into the racialized history of transness. He explains how enslaved people were experimented on by medical researchers and used to determine ideals about gender. Dr. Snorton also shares his work to document a Black, radical tradition. 

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!

Louisiana Trans Oral History Project: https://www.louisianatransoralhistory.org/ 

Susan Stryker: Bluesky (‪@susanstryker.bsky.social‬)

C. Riley Snorton: Instagram (@crileysnorton)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Online harassment against trans people has become increasingly violent and sophisticated over the last few years. In this episode replay, Imara traces the emergence of coordinated attacks against people like streamer Clara Santorini, aka Keffals. First, she discusses Kiwi Farms, “Libs of TikTok,” and the other malicious actors with Harvard Cyberlaw Clinic instructor Alejandra Caraballo. She then speaks with the lead cybersecurity instructor at Tech Learning Collective about how we can better protect ourselves online and in our private digital communication. 

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!

Alejandra Caraballo: Bluesky (@esqueer.net‬)

Tech Learning Collective: https://techlearningcollective.com 

TransTech: X (@TransTechSocial)

TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media.

The Translash team includes Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway, Hillary Esquina, and Morgan Astbury. 

Xander Adams engineered the original episode, and Lucy Little engineered this replay.

Theme music composed by Ben Draghi.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In times like these, we’re all in need of a little extra joy. This week, Imara uncovers some never-before-heard gems from the trans joy archives. With a focus on the incredible artists we’ve highlighted over the years, this special episode is the first in an ongoing “Trans Joy” series. Hear from poets, filmmakers, photographers and more about where they find inspiration, what creativity means to them, and the powerful ways art can help us find our way to a better future. 

Trans joy artists include: Cyree Jarelle Johnson, George Abraham, J Mase III, Cameron Awkward-Rich, Jess T Dugan, Joie Lou Shakur, Lauren Snyder, and Lauren YS. 

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.

Blending queerness, technology, and magic, A.E. Osworth is reshaping what fiction can create. In this episode, Imara sits down with the award-winning novelist to talk about their unique approach to storytelling. They unpack the cultural fallout of GamerGate, how it inspired their debut novel We Are Watching Eliza Bright, and what it reveals about gender, power, and the internet. The conversation also explores A.E.’s fascination with artificial intelligence, including how they think about the ethical ways AI can be used as part of a writing practice. 

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: 

Cat Fitzpatrick: Instagram (@littlepusspress)

A.E. Osworth: Instagram (@aeosworth)

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.