Raquel Willis’ Risk to Bloom

Imara chats with award-winning activist, author, and media strategist Raquel Willis about her new memoir The Risk It Takes to Bloom: On Life and Liberation. It tells the story of Raquel’s remarkable life, from her childhood in Georgia to her groundbreaking work as a national trans rights organizer, thought leader, and co-founder of Transgender Week of Visibility and Action.In this expansive conversation, Raquel shares what it was like to grow up Black and Catholic, her family’s response to her coming out, and the vulnerability of discussing her background in drag. The Risk It Takes to Bloom is on sale starting November 14, 2023.Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on Instagram, Threads,  X, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on X (@ImaraJones) and Instagram (@Imara_jones_)Follow our guest on social media!Raquel Willis: X (@raquelwillis_) and Instagram (@raquel_willis)TransLash Podcast is produced by Translash Media.Translash Team: Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway. Xander Adams is our sound engineer and contributing producer.Brennen Beckwith is our social media producer.Digital strategy by Daniela Capistrano.Theme Music: Ben Draghi and ZZK records.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Om Podcasten

"Right now, trans people face the unprecedented combination of political, social and physical violence--to the extent that when stories are told about our community, it is often through the lens of this violence,” says Imara Jones, host and creator of <i>TransLash Podcast</i>, Apple Podcasts’ Spotlight show for August 2022. “But the truth is that our lives are defined by so much more beyond hate. In almost every area of society, trans people are innovating, creating new futures and thriving--and this is the story I want to tell.”Jones first made an impact in a 2018 online docuseries about her transition and life and four years later, the podcast is just one part of TransLash Media, a fast-growing platform and nonprofit organization telling stories and reflecting the culture through a trans perspective. With new episodes twice a month, Jones delivers illuminating discussions with guests from the trans community as well as allies to help create a fairer world for all.Each episode also starts with a segment that highlights a moment of joy to add a bit of levity to some of the heavier topics she covers. “We showcase the fundamental hope and joy which propels our community forward,” she says. “If you care about and want to understand trans people at this moment, we have evolved into essential listening both for our community and those outside of it.”With anti-trans violence and political backlash at all-time highs, award-winning journalist Imara Jones hosts the TransLash podcast, where trans people and allies talk back about what matters most and discuss how to create a fairer world for all.Produced by TransLash Media.Music: Ben Draghi and also courtesy of ZZK records.Learn more: www.translash.org/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.