TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones

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 discussions. Today’s episode breaks down what could happen when the Court rules later this summer, and the far-...

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 laws than ban trans girls from playing sports. In this necessary conversation exploring what’s at stake i...

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 shares their advice for reducing anxiety and finding peace within ourselves through movement. Then, organi...

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. The two also laugh about the absurdity of Republican politics and Ally’s own conservative background. N...

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 legend and arguably the most influential voice in the democratic party.  Send your trans joy recommend...

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 business and having community can help get dreams started off the ground. Then, Imara speaks with the founder...

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 Criminal Justice Studies at San Francisco State University, who helps unpack Trump’s recent crackdown on homel...

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 world. She has performed around the world and she was even the first trans woman to sing the US national ant...

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 his legal work by the City of New York and the LGBT Bar Association of Los Angeles, among others. Toge...

This month’s elections were a resounding victory for Democrats and a rare sign of hope for many during a dark time where authoritarianism is on the rise. In this episode, Imara dives into the big stories from the recent 2025 election and what they mean for the trans community. First, Charlotte Rene Woods, a politics, health, & housing reporter for T he Virginia Mercury helps us understand how...

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...

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, explorin...

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 figh...

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 ad...

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 ,...

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....

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 th...

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 creat...

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 Braz...

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 he...

Queer and trans media publications are fighting to survive, adapt, and carve out new spaces for our stories to be told. In this episode, Imara sits down with Fran Tirado, the new Editor-in-Chief of Them. Fran reflects on her vision for Conde Naste’s LGBTQ+ publication, how queer stories are a guide to getting free, and her affinity for Ugly Betty. Fran also opens up about objectivity, the one and...

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 governm...

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 the...

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 hop...

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 sol...