Beneath The Surface

In this episode of Beneath The Surface In This Episode I FINALLY share part two of my Graduation Journey. I talk about what I needed space and time to process to create part two.  How I am feeling about my journey now that I have had some space from both the town and the institution that I did my undergraduate degree in. I also share some of the things that I experienced that were obstacles and ba...

Why Literacy Is Important  Season 3 Episode 6 In this episode of Beneath The Surface I discuss the literacy crisis in the United States.  I talk a little bit about some trends of literacy that came about when I was in High School, my thoughts on how we are seeing some of the consequences of those trends. I also talk about how the shift in institutions of Higher Education becoming places to create...

Why I Am Choosing The Bear Season 3 Episode 5 In this episode of Beneath The Surface I discuss the internet trend Why I Chose The Bear which is a trend in which Women, Femmes and Gender Expansive Folks answer the question would they rather be alone in the forest with a man or a bear and many MANY Folks are choosing the bear.   I explain why I believe folks are answering the question in this way. I...

Words Of Wisdom From My Mommy  Season 3 Episode 4 In this episode of Beneath The Surface I talk with On today’s episode of Beneath The Surface I sat down and talked with my mommy.  Join us as I talk with my mother as she reflects on her journey as a mother, womanhood, being a feminist and a pop culture connoisseur. In the episode, we discussed her journey through motherhood, empathizing and humani...

Why Libraries and Black Librarians Matter w/ Brie Chillious S3 E3 In this episode of Beneath The Surface I am in conversation with Brieanna “Brie”  Chillious one of two Black Librarians in Pima County as well as a candidate for Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) School Board. We discuss her journey of becoming a librarian. The important role that libraries play in communities, why we need more...

Revolutionizing Civic Service & Leadership with Recorder Cázares-Kelly Pt.2 S3 E2 In part two of this episode of Beneath The Surface I am in conversation with Gabriella Cázares-Kelly the current Pima County Recorder. We discuss with one another what it means for her to have made history as the first Native American to hold an elected Pima County office and the third Native American to hold a c...

In part one of this episode of Beneath The Surface I am in conversation with Gabriella Cázares-Kelly the current Pima County Recorder. We discuss with one another what inspired her to run for the Office of Pima County Recorder, what it means for her to have made history as the first Native American to hold an elected Pima County office and the third Native American to hold a county-level office in...

Beneath The Surface 1 Year Anniversary In this minisode of Beneath The Surface I celebrate The 1 year anniversary of Beneath The Surfaces relaunch. I talk a little bit about what led to the relaunch, what drove me to create the podcast and reflect on what I have accomplished in the last year. I also talk about what I am doing behind the scenes and what I hope for the future of my work. If you want...

Graduation Day Pt.1 S2 Episode 20 In this episode of Beneath The Surface I share the first half of my Undergraduate Journey. I talk a little bit about my Community College days and what led me to transferring to the University of Arizona and why I dropped out after my Fall Semester in 2015. If you want to support me and the channel you can do so by becoming a patron on Patreon. Patrons get access...

Adventures Of A Korean Adoptee PhD Student Season 2 Episode 19 In this episode of Beneath The Surface I talk with Hannah Hyun White, Korean adoptee from Phoenix, Arizona and currently a third-year PhD student studying higher education at the University of California, San Diego. Hannah and I discuss her journey as a student activist, how being a Trans Racial Adoptee has shaped her life and research...

In this episode of Beneath The Surface I talk with Richard Gallon (He/Him), the Organizing and Training Manager for Defend Our Future. In this episode we have a conversation about Superheroes, Comics and the ways that Blackness is treated in the genre. We also discuss his experience as a Blerd, the ways he  has seen the representation of BIPOC Characters shift over time and what he would stil...

Independent Podcasting Heauxs  Season 2 Episode 17 In this episode of Beneath The Surface I talk with Sam Ridell (They/Them, She/Her), an international award winning podcast producer, Co-Founder and Principal Host of The Podcast Inner Hoe Uprising (IHU), a podcast about Sex, Love and Dating from, the perspective of four Black, Queer, Feminist Folks  living in New York and Lead Producer f...

Making Our Own Media Feat LLAG  In this episode of Beneath The Surface I talk with Ranier Maningding the Founder and Chief Brand Officer of LLAG Media, a branding and strategic communication agency for BIPOC creatives and progressives. Ranier and I talk about how and why he started LLAG, some of his experiences being an APIDA Creator with a large platform, AntiBlackness in The APIDA (Asian Pa...

In this episode of Beneath The Surface I talk with Kyle Kilgore, Founder, CEO and Creative Director of Kilgore, an Independent, Queer and Black Owned decentralized fashion brand. In this episode we talk about how and why Kyle started their fashion brand. We also talk about leather, fetish and AntiFatness in the fashion industry and ways that we both hope that it will continue to push to be more in...

What Is The Carceral State?  Season 2 Episode 14 In this episode of Beneath The Surface I talk with Tiera Rainey, a born and raised Tucsonan, who serves as The Executive Director of The Tucson Second Chance Bail Fund. We have an in depth conversation about The Prison Industrial Complex and the various ways that carceral systems make money off of folks, the difference between prisons and jails...

In this episode of Beneath The Surface I speak with Kevin Sabo, a Queer, Grandchild of Portuguese Immigrants ,advocate for democratic reforms, like proportional representation, and an old friend of mine. Kevin discusses some historical context on Direct Proportional Voting and also provides a roadmap to how Direct Proportional Voting can become a reality in the United States. Lastly he shares a bo...

A Critical Convo On Black Migrants w/Tia Oso Episode S2 Episode 12 In this episode of Beneath The Surface I am talking with Tia Oso, a transformational strategist, organizer and speaker based in Mesa, AZ,. Tia and I have a conversation about how she got started doing Migrant Justice work as well as take a critical look at Immigration Policy. We also discuss the ways that AntiBlackness shapes the p...

In this episode of Beneath The Surface I talk about my very complicated relationship with the concept of resiliency and the ways the concept is weaponized against BIPOC Folks with an emphasis on how it impacts Black Folks and upholds AntiBlackness. If you want to support me and the Podcast you can do so by becoming a patron on Patreon. Patrons get access to exclusive content that can’t be found an...

Beneath The Surface Metabolizing Black Rage (Season 2, Episode 10) In this episode of Beneath The Surface I will be reflecting on and thinking through if Black Folks have had proper ways to metabolize our rage. I am thinking about this in light of the events that have happened this past week with a white man who murdered two people and injured another at a BLM Protest was found not guilty of his c...

That’s Not What That Means Pt. 2 (S.2, E.9) In this episode of Beneath The Surface I continue going through my handful of phrases and Concepts that folks say but are often misusing.  I will provide a working definition of the word or phrase and some examples of how the words or phrases are misused and how that misuse impair our ability to have meaningful dialogue. Lastly I will provide some t...

In this episode of Beneath The Surface I am going to go through a handful of phrases and Concepts that folks say but are often misusing.  I will provide a working definition of the word or phrase and some examples of how the words or phrases are misused and how that misuse impair our ability to have meaningful dialogue. Lastly I will provide some tips on how to engage in better and more meani...

In this Episode of Beneath The Surface I have my first conversational episode with  Labor Organizer, Marxist feminist, and Virgo Sun with an Aries Moon, Lexy Reyelts Salas. In this episode Lexy helps us understand the difference between Wealth Distribution and Mutual Aid. We will define terms like capitalism, wealth and what we mean when we say “The Rich”. We also discuss in depth many of the...

Reactionary Critiques In this episode I am going to discuss a pattern that I'm noticing about how we are critiquing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez AKA AOC and how that doesn't sit right with my spirit. I will break down how I feel like the media skews our ability to stay focused on what and who we also may need to be critiquing in our political system. I also discuss ways that I think we can move away f...

This episode of Beneath The Surface I explore and unpack what Fatphobia is and the various ways that it manifests itself. I also give a brief history of the body positivity movement and fat liberation movement and how in contemporary times it has been co-opted to remove it from its roots of dismantling fatphobia and anti fatness. Lastly, I provide folks with some resources to help them unpack and...

In this episode of BTS I talk about a situation where a Black Woman’s work is co-opted and how that is harmful. I also speak to the ways that we often steal and devalue the work for Black Women and Femmes and provide some ideas about why I believe that happens. Lastly I spill some tea on how my work as a Black Femme has been stolen and co-opted and what I hope folks will do to better protect and r...