Jonny Garza Villa (they/them), author of three young adult novels, discusses growing up queer and Mexican in a small Texas town, how getting into astrology helped them develop characters, and how pettiness can serve as inspiration. This is a deep dive into their books Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun (2021), Ander + Santi Were Here (2023), and Ca…

Growing up, reading and writing were things that made Sonora Reyes feel "dumb" in school. So how did they get from there to writing the Lamba Literary Award-winning, National Book Award-nominated Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School? In this interview, Sonora discusses healing their relationship to writing through fanfiction, growing up with a combi…

A panel featuring four of Nia King's favorite artists: Sawyer Lovett, Joe Hatton, Vo Vo, and Cristy C. Road. Zines played a crucial role in reducing social isolation for many of us, whether we were one of the only punks of color in our scene (Nia in Boston, Joe in the Dakotas, and Vo in Sydney, Australia), or the only gay in our rural Virginia town…

We Want the Airwaves celebrates 10 years with a panel featuring six of the artists from Queer & Trans Artists of Color, Volume Three: Anthony J. Williams, Kamal Al-Soylaylee, Joamette Gil, Venus Kii Thomas, Qwo-Li Driskill, and Osa Atoe! (This is the first part of a two-part episode, so you will only hear Ant, Kamal, and Jo on it.) This panel is co…

In this very special CROSSOVER episode, I interview the hosts of the Mexican podcast No Hay Tos (in English after they interviewed me for their own show in Spanish). Beto and Héctor, both long-time Spanish teachers, discuss their own language-learning journey, what they love about podcasting, and some of the challenges of teaching. Check out their …

Hello. Hi. Happy Thanksgiving. Merry Christmas. Happy Kwanza. Happy New Year. Hello new President. Hello Capitol Riots. Hi Winter. Hello Daylight Savings Time coming and going. Hello 1 year anniversary of pandemic lockdown. That's how long it has been since we made an episode. AND YET WE ARE ALIVE! Hey glory!…

Sri Lankan-American Tamil trans woman reporter and martial artist Simi Kadirgamar is the guest on this month's podcast episode. In it, we discuss her reported/illustrated zine on the Indian and Pakistani occupation of Kashmir, a family that peddles Brazilian Jiu-jitsu training to police all over the world, and why she chose hate groups and the far-…

Singer, dancer, actor: Briyana Clarel is a triple threat! In this episode, the Black, nonbinary theater artist discusses growing up in South Jersey, racism at Princeton, and learning to love musical theater, sketch comedy, and a capella. Read the transcripts at scribd.com/artactivistnia. Support the podcast at patreon.com/artactivistnia.…

It's the holiday season and you know what that means: FOOD! And folks complaining about how much food they're eating on how it's going to have an impact on their body/ weight etc. In this episode we explore our favorite foods and then we get into it about fatphobia and dealing with that in this world of social media gaze. Johnathan: @blasianFMA - C…

As we are ALL still reeling from the results of the 2020 presidential election, our QPOC fam dissects the early returns, shares how they participated in this year’s election, and discuss what the future of the political world is looking like for us. We also take time to celebrate the many LGBTQ+ folks who recently won both local and national electi…

This week, the This QPOC Life crew is talking about being biracial. We start off with personal stories from our lives and then pivot into Kamala Harris's identity and how we think that may or may not have an impact on voters in the 2020 presidential election. Follow us on Social Media: Johnathan: @blasianFMA Carlos: @tresfabuleux Ashley: @ashleylne…

Afro-Latina trans woman essayist Princess Harmony stops by the podcast to discuss her writing for Black Girl Dangerous, Wear Your Voice and Workers World. We also discuss what's missing in reporting about the opioid pandemic, the different types of medication-assisted treatment available and whether rehab is a scam. Read the transcript at scribd.co…

Peppermint is EVERYONE’S favorite flavor! On today’s episode we have an extra-special interview with the iconic, legendary, fabulous Peppermint. Known for her starring roles on Broadway and RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 9, along with being a musician and a trans activist, Pep won’t let Covid-19 slow her down. Carlos and Zach sit down with Peppermint to…

Gobble me, swallow me, drip down the side of me...that’s right y’all, today we are talking about none other than the Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion hit “WAP”! And as a song that celebrates Black Woman empowerment, there’s plenty to cover: the double-standard of men versus women being sexual, the debate over where the song empowers or degrades wome…

In part two of my interview with Afro-Peruvian Brazilian filmmaker Gabriela Watson-Burkett, we discuss her second film, Baobab Flowers and her new organization, Presente! Media. Baobab Flowers follows the parallel lives of two Black women educators, one who lives and teaches in São Paulo, Brazil and another who lives and teaches in Philly. At the e…

Are you down with “the swirl?” This QPOC Life is BACK and ready to tackle dating across racial lines. Dating as a QPOC is tough enough, so what happens when you decide to date someone from a different race or ethnic group? Our hosts talk about the highs and lows of their dating experiences.#love #lgbt #qpoc #tqpocl #podsincolor #dating #queer #inte…

Filmmaker and producer Gabriela Watson-Burkett makes work to connect people across the African diaspora. Her first film, Nosotros Afroperuanos, discusses Black history in Peru and its erasure. Her second film, Baobab Flowers, draws parallels between a Black woman educator in São Paulo, Brazil and a Black woman educator in Philadelphia. Her most rec…

How has coronavirus impacted the fitness industry? In this episode Nia chats with two queer Black business owners, athletic trainer Mike Watkins and Pilates instructor Teresa Ellis, to find out. They also discuss creating fat-positive fitness spaces, working with disabled clients, and ways they try to make their services accessible to low-income fo…

At the intersection of political art and environmental science, queer nonbinary Chinese-American Fèini Yĭn is a celestial presence in a static world. Their work ranges from enthralling pieces in The New York Times, to art processions designed to shake up science communities, to short stop-motion films about the natural world — a praxis that challen…

This week we welcome Motoki Maxted, a multi talented content creator and all around "nice guy." In this episode we talk about Motoki's career in social media, his rise to popularity, growing up Asian in a rural and Christian area, and more. Motoki is also the host of the Exposed Podcast. GROW THE COMMUNITY If you believe in the work we are doing, i…

It's a This QPOC Life summer special with none other than Bob the Drag Queen! The Black Lives Matter movement has taken center stage in the national conversation in America. And as many White people (and brands, sports teams, etc.) are “waking up” to the ills of systemic racism, we can’t help but wonder if it’s real or if it’s all for show. On toda…

On the Season 3 Finale of This QPOC Life, we talk about the goals we set at the beginning of the season and the changes we had to make. We discuss Zoom exhaustion, Zoom bombers, and how COVID-19 disproportionately affects BIPOC. As a note: This episode was recorded prior to the homicide of George Floyd. As we march to demand justice for Black lives…

To say that Vo, a nonbinary trans masc Vietnamese immigant, is an artist is to dance to the arrhythmic tune of understatement: they are a traveler, social worker, and wizened anarchist soul who not only dabbles in various artistic media, but transforms each discipline they encounter. Their galvanizing work in the zine underground with the internati…

Michael Roberson discusses the ballroom community -- which drew mainstream notice courtesy of Madonna's 1990 "Vogue" video and Jennie Livingston's 1991 documentary Paris Is Burning -- and its ability to unify traditionally excluded individuals. These self-made families forge bonds that span a lifetime and has developed into a global subculture. He …

Black Boricua Taíno queer and trans artist Ignacio Rivera is a poet, performer and activist working to end child sexual abuse, or CSA. They are also a grandparent. In this interview, featuring their baby grandson, Ignacio discusses growing up in Brooklyn, becoming politicized in Massachusetts, and the connections between sexual liberation and endin…

Bisexual Latina writer, comics artist and musician Suzy X has gone from making zines to drawing comics for Rookie Mag to writing for MTV Iggy (RIP) to being the Latin music editor at Rolling Stone in the short time (approx. 7 years) I've known her, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this success. In this interview we discuss her zines M…

Queer Indian-American author Rahul Mehta discusses his award-winning collection of short stories, Quarantine; growing up Asian in Appalachia; and how LGBTQ audiences in India have received his work. We also try to sort out why he's so drawn to unlikeable protagonists. Photo by Matthew Hamilton. Read the transcript at scribd.com/artactivistnia. Supp…

You, dear listener, might have wavy, curly, coily, or kinky hair. TODAY, we're talking about the obsession with our hair. Not our own obsession with our hair, #TeamNatural. Rather, the obsession non-POC seem to have with touching our hair. You probably had a variation of this conversation at least once in your life: “I just love your hair! It’s so …

Alex Smith is a queer, Black sci-fi writer, musician and visual artist. In this interview, we discuss his collection of short stories, ARKDUST, as well as his many influences, ranging from Public Enemy to Nirvana and Marvel Comics to the Black Panther Party. Photo by Shane Jenkins. Read the transcript at scribd.com/artactivistnia. Support the podca…

Working a corporate gig can be complicated and political enough. Now add being POC to the experience. Okay, now add being queer. NOW, add being a woman. Today, Carlos is flying solo with a special guest, Ashley Nesby. Ashley shares her experience as a black woman and a lesbian navigating her way through the corporate world. She also shares her comi…

Leaning in (and leaning over) to 2020, you might be examining your relationships and grappling with people who are toxic in your life. The blurring edges between social media and real life don't make that a walk in the park. As the conversation about "cancel culture" heats up, is it okay to cut those people from your life? The Core Four dive pretty…

We’re This QPOC Life and this is... 2020! The core four are back with a self-care check-in and setting our intentions for a new decade. Carlos gets mixed and mingled, Johnathan gets bit by the travel bug, Jo Lee breaks shackles, and Zach is here with a prophecy. GROW THE COMMUNITY If you believe in the work we are doing, invest in our success, beco…

The Core Four are joined by the illustrious Raffy Regulus. It's Carlos's first time rolling the d20s. For vets like Johnathan, Zach, and Jo, it's still an adventure we didn't expect. Raffy takes us on a Dungeons and Dragons adventure as only a QPOC could. What twists and turns await our aspiring adventurers? What lurks in the forgotten places of Wa…

BL Shirelle of Die Jim Crow Records discusses the challenges of recording and releasing music by incarcerated artists. She also shares stories of dealing drugs, doing time and raising kids with her wife. (Photo by Verse.) Support the podcast at patreon.com/artactivistnia. Transcript coming soon.

This week Johnathan interviews Steven Wakabayashi, about racial fetishization in Gay Asian dating practices. GROW THE COMMUNITY If you believe in the work we are doing, invest in our success, become a Patron on Patreon! Thank you to all our Patrons. Subscribe to (and rate) the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify! Follow This QPO…

This week Johnathan interviews Steven Wakabayashi, content creator and mindfulness guru known, lately, for his response to Queer Eye Japan. GROW THE COMMUNITY If you believe in the work we are doing, invest in our success, become a Patron on Patreon! Thank you to all our Patrons. Subscribe to (and rate) the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast…

This week the QPOC crew discusses names, dead names, and the role social media plays in either affirming individuals who do not go by the names on their government documents or how those social media giants act as hurdles to people who have moved on from that chapter of their life. GROW THE COMMUNITY If you believe in the work we are doing, invest …

Acclimatizing to workplace culture can already be a tricky thing to navigate. That's especially true in corporate culture. The whole crew attended an LGBTQIA+ event that Zach put together. The panel brought folks together sharing different experiences as far as their ability to self express at work. This had us thinking about what it's like being Q…

As we step into Transgender Awareness Month, please remember that trans allyship is ongoing, every day of the year. Do the work. We dedicate this episode to the memory of trans women of color whose lives were taken from them in 2019. Dana Martin, Jazzaline Ware, Ashanti Carmon Claire Legato, Muhlaysia Booker, Michelle “Tamika” Washington, Paris Cam…

Black queer Philadelphia-based musician and visual artist Oliver Spencer (known musically as St. Sol) discusses growing up between North Carolina and Okinawa, how their dad's military service impacted their life, and finding the space to be weird in (an arts) high school. We also talk about the whiteness of art school(s), not letting perfectionism …

It's the final week of scary pumpkin season! We get into a discussion about scary movies and all things spooky. The crew has lots to share on self-care this week. Jo Lee's perspectives are changing, Zach is pulling through, Carlos drops a word, and Johnathan starts new routines. The whole QPOC gang wishes you a fabulous and safe Halloween! Pull som…

As Halloween month continues, the crew is ready to explore their freaky sides. Sex can be a scary conversation for some, especially for queer and trans people of color. There can be shame attached to our experiences. Sometimes, we don't have all the information. Messaging we receive as young people has consequences. In the age of internet hookups, …

Spooky Season continues as we delve into the seasonal traditions of just some of our QPOC ancestral worship. The spread of Christianity through colonization has reshaped spiritual culture for many people of color. In many cases, especially for African Americans, it's meant the outright erasure and rejection of those traditions. GROW THE COMMUNITY I…

Black asexual zinester and cartoonist Joyce Hatton discusses their comic Locks and their zines Trust the Knife and Grief. Joyce is a survivor of breast cancer, homelessness, and a suicide attempt, so this episode gets pretty heavy. We also talk about the concept of "trauma porn" (which is not actual porn), when illustrations come easier than words,…

This week, the Credibility Crew tackle the topic of "safe space". Specifically, we discuss the lack of virtual and tangible spaces for nonbinary People of Color. Externally, it's easy to find language about "brave space", but where can nonbinary people turn to address their fears and concerns? Zach seems tongue-tied. Johnathan's getting the casting…

Ghosts? Gargoyles? Witch books!? October means everyone’s favorite spooky time of year. Halloween is coming which got us to thinking about ghost stories. The gang shares their experiences getting ghosted (and being the ghost). We also talk about ghosting on platonic friends. What are your ghost stories? Johnathan feels better, #ThisKetoLife gives Z…

To our new listeners, HELLO! We're happy you're here. To our returning listeners, get ready get ready! Season 3 of The Award Winning This QPOC Life starts off with a reintroduction to the core crew, catches up with their Summer shenanigans and looks to the 2019-2020 season. As things begin to change, some things remain the same. Get ready, get read…

1.) I'm taking a break from the podcast. I'll be back in October. 2.) I'm moving to Philly. Please hit my up if you have leads on any jobs! 3.) The book launch for Queer & Trans Artists of Color, Volume 3 is October 19th at East Bay Booksellers in Oakland, featuring Anthony J. Williams, Luna Merbruja and Paradise Khanmalek. PLEASE DONATE so we can …

Bisexual trans Latina writer Mey Rude discusses growing up in Idaho, getting kicked out of her church family, and how comics helped her find her queer- and trans-ness. Read the transcript at scribd.com/artactivistnia. Support the podcast at patreon.com/artactivistnia.

Two-Spirit mestiza musician Aja Archuleta discusses growing up in a big Mexican family with deep Denver roots, discovering her Indigenous identity, and why "Two-Spirit" now fits her better than "trans". She also shares how her love of music evolved: from playing piano in Catholic school to discovering the how much fun noise-punk could be to making …