Be The Glitter ✨ 🌈 Podcast

"I was just existing." That's how Addison Radcliff describes childhood — before the world started handing her labels she never asked for.

In this episode of Be the Glitter, host Laura Paisley Beck sits down with Addison Radcliff — Dane County realtor, board member for Advocates for Transgender Equality, and a woman who's been navigating the world as her authentic self since third grade.

Addison opens up about realizing her identity before she had the words for it, the complicated relationship with a biological father who responded to her identity with violence, the mom who became her fiercest advocate, and why "if you can't love yourself, you can't love somebody else" isn't just a cliché — it's survival. She also gets into what real allyship looks like (and where it goes wrong), and why trans rights, reproductive rights, and healthcare access are more connected than most people realize.

This conversation moves through hard truths and real joy — because that's what Be the Glitter is all about: tough topics, told with heart, that leave you with something that sticks.

Timestamps:

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs it. Follow and subscribe to help us build a community rooted in compassionate curiosity.

🔗 All the links for Wa'am — https://linktr.ee/waamwrites

🔗 Connect with Addison Radcliff: https://aradcliffe.starkhomes.com/

🔗 Learn more about Advocates for Transgender Equality: https://transequality.org

🎵 Music provided by Chillhop Music

#BeTheGlitter #TransVoices #LGBTQ #Allyship #TransRights #SelfLove #Authenticity #TransgenderJourney

🎙️ Be the Glitter: Kammie Flips the Script and Interviews ME

In this special role-reversal episode, my guest Kamryn Fraser decided she wasn't going to let me get away with just asking the questions this time. She turns the mic around and interviews me — so you get to hear a lot more about my own story than usual, including the dark place that led me to OPEN Foundation, why safe spaces matter so much to me personally, and what it really means to be an ally.

💫 KEY TOPICS:

🌈 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

⏱️ TIME MARKERS: (placeholders — adjust to your final edit)

Music provided by Chillhop Music: https://chillhop.ffm.to/creatorcred

#BeTheGlitter #LGBTQPodcast #AuthenticStories #RepresentationMatters #QueerJoy #Allyship #SafeSpaces #TransRights

Would you like to sponsor Be the Glitter? Check out our new sponsor levels and purchase one today! https://www.waamwritesllc.com/podcast

Welcome to Be the Glitter, where we talk about tough topics with giggles and leave inspiration that sticks. In this episode, we talk about one of the sticky subjects that pops up in Pride Month: DEI.

What if the training meant to reduce bias was quietly making it worse?

Dr. William Cox is a social psychologist with a PhD from UW-Madison, founder of the nonprofit Inequity Agents of Change, and author of the new book Overcoming Bias Habits: An Evidence-Based Guide to Creating a Joyfully Inclusive World. He has spent 20 years developing and testing bias reduction methods through more than a dozen randomized controlled studies.

✨ Why giving people information is one of the worst ways to change behavior

✨ How some DEI training causes managers to avoid colleagues of color

✨ The zip code story that will make your jaw drop

✨ Equality vs. equity — explained with one perfect example

✨ Why diverse joy is a scientifically proven tool for reducing bias

Resrouces mentioned:

📚 Book: Search "Overcoming Bias Habits" everywhere books are sold

🎙️ Podcast: Diverse Joy (top 5% of all podcasts worldwide) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/diverse-joy/id1692372910

🔗 Free resources + training: www.biashabit.com

Music provided by Chillhop Music Aviino - Hotel Lobby Birthday Party https://chll.to/1ac17f01

A Special Thanks to Be The Glitter's Sponsor, New Valley Labs, Where Founders Bloom! https://www.newvalleylabs.com

Music provided by Chillhop Music Venuz Beats, Bao - Circles https://chll.to/8af1d579

For more from Wa'am: https://linktr.ee/waamwrites 

#DEI #BiasTraining #DiverseJoy #OvercomingBias #BeTheGlitter #Inclusion #SocialPsychology #WorkplaceInclusion #LGBTQ #evidencebasedpractice

🌟 "No matter where I go, guess who shows up? It's me." Feeling overwhelmed by everything happening in the world? Trans Latina life coach Tawni Sophia Acosta shares practical tools to navigate fear, reset your nervous system, and discover you're more powerful than you think. In this conversation, Tawni guides us through simple breathing exercises you can use

👕 "We're not going anywhere. We're here to conquer."

Meet Fran Dunaway, co-founder of TomboyX - the LGBTQ+ owned underwear and apparel company that started in a one-car garage and became a symbol of resistance, representation, and damn fine underwear for ALL bodies.

In this powerful conversation, Fran opens up about coming out at 21, becoming an activist when the world wasn't as welcoming as she hoped, and building a B Corp that puts community and sustainability before profits. She also shares the shocking story of receiving an FDA warning letter, why TomboyX walked away from Target, and how joy itself becomes resistance.

🌼 This episode is sponsored by New Valley Labs, where founders bloom. 🌼 https://www.newvalleylabs.com/

5 Ways TomboyX Is Fighting Back Against Trans Erasure:

1️⃣ Refusing to bow to FDA fear-mongering - After receiving a warning letter targeting chest binders, they made compliance changes but launched Compression Top 2.0 anyway

2️⃣ Walking away from Target's millions - When Target quietly pulled trans products from their website, TomboyX pulled ALL their products rather than compromise values

3️⃣ Saying NO to big box stores - Actively turning down lucrative partnerships with companies that don't share their values, even when it hurts the bottom line

4️⃣ Centering trans voices in product development - Working directly with trans community members when designing trans-adaptive clothing and compression tops

5️⃣ Showing up visibly and vocally - Attending Trans Day of Visibility, making monthly donations to LGBTQ+ orgs, and refusing to be silent or disappear

You'll Also Hear About: ✨ Fran's coming-out story at 21 and immediate dive into activism ✨ The Kickstarter campaign that revealed a massive market gap ✨ Why they pivoted from button-ups to underwear (customers asked!) ✨ Building a team that's 40% LGBTQ+ and 75% queer leadership ✨ Why TomboyX refuses to charge more for extended sizes ✨ How to stay resilient when corporations betray your community ✨ Why "surviving in this political climate is a royal fuck you"

TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Welcome & Introductions 03:15 - Fran's Coming Out Story at 21 06:40 - Becoming an Activist & Video Producer 10:25 - The TomboyX Origin Story: From Garage to Revolution 15:30 - The Kickstarter That Changed Everything 18:45 - "We're Getting Requests for Underwear for Women" 22:10 - Representation Matters: Real Bodies, No Photoshop 26:35 - The B Corp Commitment & Values-First Business 31:20 - THE FDA WARNING LETTER: What Really Happened 37:45 - Target's Betrayal & Why TomboyX Walked Away 42:50 - Extended Sizing Without the Upcharge 46:30 - Working WITH Trans Community on Product Development 51:15 - How to Stay Resilient Through Disappointment 55:40 - Advice for Allies: Vote With Your Dollars 58:20 - Trans Day of Visibility & How to Help 01:00:45 - Gratitude & Final Thoughts

ABOUT FRAN DUNAWAY & TOMBOYX: Fran Dunaway (she/her) is the co-founder of TomboyX, an LGBTQ+ owned B Corporation creating quality underwear and apparel for all bodies. What started as a passion project in a one-car garage has become a beacon of representation, sustainability, and resistance. TomboyX refuses to compromise on values - they use eco-certified fabrics, pay living wages, donate excess inventory to community organizations, and put people before profits. With a team that's 40% LGBTQ+ and 75% queer leadership, TomboyX isn't just making underwear - they're making a statement.

🔗 Shop TomboyX & Support LGBTQ+ Business: 🏳️‍🌈 Website: https://tomboyx.com 📱 Follow TomboyX: https://www.instagram.com/tomboyx/ 🌈 Trans Day of Visibility Event Info: https://christopherstreetproject.org/tdov/

ABOUT BE THE GLITTER PODCAST: Be the Glitter is where we talk about tough topics with giggles and leave inspiration that sticks. Hosted by Laura Paisley Beck (Wa'am of Wa'am Writes), this podcast celebrates authentic voices, challenges societal norms, and creates tsunamis of positive social change - one conversation at a time! ✨

Co-hosted in this episode by Jo Green, proud out member of the LGBTQ+ community and previous Be the Glitter guest. https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephinegreene/

💫 Subscribe & Share the Glitter! New episodes when inspiration strikes. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation that matters.

🔗 More About Be the Glitter: 🌟 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/waamwrites

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON TRANSGENDER IDENTITY: As mentioned in the podcast, there is significant scientific evidence that being transgender is natural and has biological roots:

📊 Hudson Institute Study (2019) - World's largest study of 380 transgender women found genetic variations in genes that process sex hormones, suggesting a biological basis for gender identity https://hudson.org.au/news/written-in-dna-study-reveals-potential-biological-basis-for-transgender/

📊 Medical College of Georgia Study (2019) - Identified 21 variants in 19 genes in estrogen signaling pathways critical to brain development and gender identity https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200205084203.htm

📊 Twin Studies - Found 33% of identical twins were both transgender vs. only 2.6% of non-identical twins, providing strong evidence of genetic influence

📊 Comprehensive Scientific Review (2015) - First comprehensive review of scientific evidence showing gender identity is a biological phenomenon https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150213112317.htm

Transgender people have existed in every culture throughout human history. This is natural, normal, and scientifically documented.

KEY QUOTES: 💬 "I don't like to be dishonest, and it felt dishonest to not just be who I am." 💬 "Joy is resistance." 💬 "If you're not in with inclusivity, you're just out of touch." 💬 "We're not gonna compromise on our values just for a dollar." 💬 "Surviving in this environment is a royal fuck you to what's going on." 💬 "We're not going anywhere. We're here to conquer."

KEY TOPICS: LGBTQ+ business, TomboyX, transgender rights, chest binders, FDA targeting, inclusive fashion, extended sizing, B Corp, sustainable fashion, LGBTQ+ activism, Target boycott, trans visibility, queer entrepreneurship, gender-affirming clothing, body positivity, ethical fashion, corporate values, resisting erasure

Music:

For Episode: Music provided by Chillhop Music Emperose, Selvi Hanna - Selamat Djalan https://chll.to/64af3d72

For New Valley Labs Ad: Music provided by Chillhop Music Venuz Beats, Bao - Circles https://chll.to/8af1d579

#TomboyX #LGBTQBusiness #TransRights #InclusiveFashion #BCorp #QueerEntrepreneur #TransVisibility #BodyPositivity #SustainableFashion #BeTheGlitter #ResistErasure #ChestBinders #FDAOverreach #TargetBoycott #PrideAllYear #TransJoy #QueerJoy #EthicalFashion #GenderAffirmingCare #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies #ValuesOverProfits #LGBTQActivism #ExtendedSizing #SizeInclusive #QueerOwned

💬 What resonated with you most? How do YOU vote with your dollars? Drop a comment below!

👍 If Fran's resilience inspired you, give this a 5 star rating and share it with someone who needs to hear this message of resistance and hope!

This is where it all started—no script, no plan, just two queer entrepreneurs refusing to dim their light.

Join Wa'am and Yolanda Brown (Copyright Brown) as they coin the phrase that became a movement: "Be the Glitter." Spread love like glitter spreads—getting into crevices, showing up seven months later, impossible to forget.

You'll hear:

This episode is raw, authentic, and full of the giggles we promised. Two Black queer women talking about values over profits, collaboration over competition, and why your neighbor's small business matters more than you think.

Perfect for: LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, BIPOC founders, anyone tired of corporate rainbow-washing, and everyone who believes business should feel like community—not capitalism's grinding machine.

Warning: Contains unfiltered joy, strategic napping advocacy, and plans for an Alphabet Scouts league (coming 2027, bring your sash).

🎧 Listen if you're ready to: Stop dimming your light, align your values with your business, and remember that if you're not in with inclusivity, you're out of touch.

Music provided by Chillhop Music

72 Countries Later: What Travel Taught Me About LGBTQ+ Safety on Be the Glitter Podcast with Rae Dillon of CopywriteRight, UK.

✨ Why inclusive language matters—both in travel and at work

✨ Creating workplaces where people don't have to hide who they are

✨ How authenticity leads to happier, more productive teams

✨ Cultural respect as the foundation for safer spaces everywhere

Connect with Rae: https://copywriteright.co.uk/

And give love to our sponsor: https://cfopowerup.com

Music: Music provided by Chillhop Music Marcus D - All That Glitters https://chll.to/a8a234db

and for Eliana's Ad: Eliana's ad: Music provided by Chillhop Music Aviino - Citrus Snow https://chll.to/ce0cf279

About Be the Glitter:

Trans muralist Evelyn McBride is painting queer representation into public spaces—and making it impossible to ignore. From a "glass closet" to bold bi-flag colored murals, Evelyn shares her journey to visibility, the power of art that helps LGBTQ+ folks see themselves, and why taking up space matters now more than ever.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, rate, and share with fellow art lovers and LGBTQ+ supporters! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟  More links: https://linktr.ee/waamwrites

Connect with Evelyn McBride:

https://dribbble.com/eveofswords

For Midwest Mujeres ad: Music provided by Chillhop Music

#BeTheGlitter #TransArtist #QueerArt #LGBTQRepresentation #MuralArt

What if the people who shine the brightest are the ones who've walked through the darkest fires? In this deeply moving episode, intuitive astrologer and energy worker Ana Devine (they/she) shares their powerful journey from growing up in a restrictive religious environment to stepping fully into their authentic identity. Ana reminds us of a truth we often forget: healing doesn't make our pain smaller—we grow bigger to hold it. Through psychotherapy, energy work, and profound self-discovery, Ana has learned to create a "myelin sheath" around their wounds, honoring them without letting them define their entire existence. In this conversation, we explore:

Sponsor ad opportunities and more links here: https://linktr.ee/waamwrites

 "For Midwest Mujeres ad: Music provided by Chillhop Music sadtoi - Beach Volley Club https://chll.to/d9efc2c2"

🏘️ What happens when finding an apartment depends more on how you look than your credit score?

In this powerful episode, meet LP - founder of Houstory, a tech startup using storytelling and transparency to expose landlord bias and rental discrimination. LP shares her deeply personal journey from experiencing housing discrimination firsthand in New York City to building a platform that's changing the rental game for everyone.

You'll hear about:

This episode is especially for you if:

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: This is our FIRST episode with a paid sponsor! 🎉

✨ This episode is brought to you by Midwest Mujeres ✨  Closing the Gender Wage Gap One Story at a Time. They empower Latinas and Black women to unleash their voices for greater impact and wealth.

ABOUT OUR GUEST: LP is the founder and managing director of Houstory, a tech startup bringing rental transparency to big cities. With a background in human resources and operations, LP is on a mission to help renters access verified information about properties and landlords before they sign a lease. Want to join the Houstory waitlist or share your rental story with LP? Connect with her through the links below!

Connect with LP & Houstory:

ABOUT BE THE GLITTER: Be the Glitter is where we talk about tough topics with giggles and leave inspiration that sticks. Hosted by Laura Paisley Beck (Wa'am of Wa'am Writes), this podcast celebrates authentic voices, challenges societal norms, and creates tsunamis of positive social change - one conversation at a time! ✨

More ways to connect: 🌟 All our links: https://linktr.ee/waamwrites

LOVE THIS EPISODE? 💬 Share it with someone who needs to hear LP's story ⭐ Leave us a rating and review - it helps others find the podcast 📧 Have a story to share or topic suggestion? Reach out through our Linktree!

KEYWORDS: housing discrimination, rental transparency, tech startup, social justice, queer identity, intersectionality, NYC housing, landlord accountability, gentrification, cultural identity, startup founder

✨ Let's spread the glitter and make change that sticks! ✨