On the heels of Pride, Kindred Transmissions by the Digital Transgender Archive revisits the history of the Stonewall Uprising and its enduring legacy in New York City, where trans communities continue to resist state repression. In Episode One, “Frequency of Aliveness,” host and historian Jules Gill-Peterson is joined by artist and filmmaker Tourmaline to honor the life and work of Marsha P. Johnson. 

Tourmaline, author of the new biography MARSHA, reflects on Johnson’s revolutionary spirit, from co-founding with Sylvia Rivera STAR (Street Transvestites Action Revolutionaries), to her decades of mutual aid, protest, and performance with the theater company Hot Peaches. 

Through archival recordings and personal insight, Tourmaline tunes into the transformative power of Marsha’s aliveness and the frequency of her spirit. 

Find the archival materials mentioned in the episode at the Digital Transgender Archive website. 

This episode of Kindred Transmissions is produced by Umi Hsu and Associate Producer Shei Yu. Hosted by Jules Gill-Peterson. Edited by Evan Ibarra. Scripted by Umi Hsu and Shei Yu. Theme and episode music by Imogen Teasley-Vlautin. Research by Rachael McIntosh. Graphic Design by Ariel Huang. 

This episode contains the voices of Tourmaline, Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Jimmy Camicia, and Randy Wicker. 

This season of Kindred Transmissions is made possible by a grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources and support from Northeastern University.

Kindred Transmissions is a podcast by the Digital Transgender Archive that tunes into the revolutionary voices of trans people from history. Through archival recordings, personal reflections, and conversations with contemporary trans artists, scholars, and activists, we trace the echoes of kinship across generations.