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…

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…

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…

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…

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/

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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”…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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…

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!

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.

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,…

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.

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…

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.

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…

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.