Join us as Trans Northland welcomes Karter Starling to the conversation!

Karter (he/him) is the Rural Elder Outreach Manager at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and serves as the Treasurer on the board of Itasca Pride. Karter came out as transgender at 16 and has several years of experience working in LGBTQIA+ advocacy and organizing in a variety of political climates from his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Portland, Oregon, and finally in rural Minnesota. Today, Karter manages a program that helps to educate rural LGBTQIA+ elders about advance care planning options and is working to record the histories and legacies of these elders through one-on-one storytelling sessions. When he's not organizing and advocating, Karter can be found in his pollinator garden, deep in a book, or enjoying living in Minnesota's nature.

Show Notes:

• If you can’t make it to our “Protect Your Rights ASAP!” event, you can connect with a professional at Lutheran Social Services at [email protected]
• Get connected with Itasca Pride at [email protected] or https://www.itascapride.org/ 

Join us as Trans Northland welcomes Raven/Selene and Cam Kruger to the show!

Raven/Selene (she/her & fae/faer) and Cam Kruger (he/him) are the co-hosts of the amazing Transgenda Podcast – a funny, touching, and informative chronicle of Raven, a transgender woman and Cam, faers cisgender dad, as they share their experiences of growing together and hating bigots. 

Show Notes:

• Follow them at @transgendapod on Facebook and Instagram
• Check out their episodes on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG61MX-t-vd8nXArWV9k--A

Join us as Trans Northland welcomes Carver Harries to the show!

Carver (he/him) is the executive director of Ashland Area Development Corp, and he's also a trans man who came out and began his transition journey in his late 50s. Carver recently developed an informational comedy show that he performs for folks who want to learn how to become stronger allies for transgender people in a rapidly changing world.

Show Notes:

• Ashland Area Development Corporation – https://www.ashlandareadevelopment.com/
• Rainbow Family Camp – June 10th-14th, 2026 in Wisconsin

Join us as we welcome our latest guest star to the show, Courtney Cochran!

Courtney (they/them) has years of experience as a clinical herbalist and even more as a social worker and community organizer in the Northland. Courtney runs Alseth Acres Apothecary & Herb Farm with their partner, and they're excited for their next adventure in community caretaking...offering massage therapy and bodywork through Glittermoss Healing Arts!

Show Notes:

• Glittermoss Healing Arts - https://www.glittermoss.com/
• Alseth Acres Apothecary & Herb Farm - https://alsethacresapothecary.weebly.com/

Join us as we welcome Lara Crow to the show for our first episode of 2026!

Lara Crow is an intersex woman, wife, mom, and business owner. She's a licensed attorney in Minnesota and Kansas, and her and her wife co-founded Crow & Co. Books, a small independent bookstore that specializes in "the Queer, the Weird, and the Wonderful." Lara also serves on our board of directors for Trans Northland.

You can find Crow & Co. Books at:

• @crowandcotogo on Instagram
• Visit their website at https://www.crowandcobooks.com/
• Shop in person at the Ritual Marketplace, located at 1323 Broadway St
  Superior, WI

Join us as we welcome our latest guest star, Root Holden (they/them), to the show!

Root (they/them) is a queer, disabled eco-spiritual care provider and celebrant based in Duluth, MN. To support their clients, Root provides spiritual discernment sessions, divination, ritual creation and facilitation, including seasonal celebrations as well as rites of passage, such as hand fasting, naming ceremonies, and death rites. You can find their work at rootholden.com and coming in 2026 at Pleasure and Belonging in Spirit Valley.

Show Notes:

• Weaving Webs of Care: An Interactive Book Experience on January 31, 2026 from 1-3:30pm Many of us are struggling right now as we juggle survival under late-stage capitalism, taking care of ourselves, our loved ones, and showing up in and for our communities in the middle of this polycrisis. Join Dr Alex Iantaffi for an interactive book experience based on one of their books, Hell Yeah Self-care: a trauma informed workbook, to create your own personal map to balancing self and community care in 2026. 
• Foxes and Fireflies Bookstore in Superior

Join us as Trans Northland welcomes the fabulous house mother and drag performer herself, ThatQueerIsa (she/her) to the show!

ThatQueerlsa is a local drag performer here in the Twin Ports, and is Mother of the Haus of Queer! Isa produces and hosts drag shows & events throughout the Twin Ports & the Northland. Outside of the drag world, Isa dedicates her time to Trans Northland as our Vice Chair on our Board of Directors!

12/3/25 – Join us as Trans Northland welcomes Dr. Tara Richter (she/her) to the show!

Our host, Sean, and Tara had a cool conversation about how cisgender people can experience gender joy, how Tara got into working with trans and gender expansive people in her mental health work & about the psychotherapy support group she facilitates for trans adults, and how we can all take good care of ourselves this holiday season when so many in the LGBTQ+ people struggle during this time of year. 

If you’re interested in joining the trans psychotherapy support group, or connecting with Tara for mental health counseling or psychological testing for ADHD, autism, and more…check out her website at https://www.richterpsych.com/.

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*GUEST STAR INFO: 
Dr. Tara Richter is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist practices gender and identity-affirming care, and has worked extensively with the 2SLGBTQAI+ community. She also facilitates a monthly psychotherapy support group for transgender adults. We’re excited to have Dr. Richter join us to talk more about her work, as well as to share some planning tips for how we can take care of ourselves during the holidays.

*SHOW NOTES:
1) Richter Scale Psychological Services – https://www.richterpsych.com/
2) Transgender Psychotherapy Support Group – meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 5pm (CST). For more info, get in touch at [email protected]

*NEXT EPISODE: 
Join us as we welcome fabulous house mother and drag performer herself, ThatqueerIsa Cassadine to LIVE with Trans Northland on Wednesday, 12/17/25 at 12pm (CST)!!

ThatQueerlsa is a local drag performer here in the Twin Ports, and is Mother of the Haus of Queer! Isa produces and hosts drag shows & events throughout the Twin Ports & the Northland. Outside of the drag world, Isa dedicates her time to Trans Northland as our Vice Chair on our Board of Directors! You won't wanna miss this one!!

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*ABOUT TRANS NORTHLAND: 
Trans Northland is a community nonprofit organization based in Duluth, MN that provides support, resources & connection to the transgender community. To learn more about Trans Northland, please visit https://www.transnorthland.org.

*SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST:
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/0SbKvmbuSCktbmwAiHGM0L?si=3692f1bd693e46dd
Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1858985328

*FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/transnorthland
Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/transnorthland

*SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL:
https://lb.benchmarkemail.com//listbuilder/signupnew?5hjt8JVutE4d7F6aYzgKZ%252F5pwVnAjsSIuJF20H2GrbbtO5iNRn8gS049TyW7spdJ

11/19/25 – Join us as Trans Northland welcomes long-time community advocate, Kathy Hermes (she/they)!

Many in our community have connected with Kathy over the years for their outstanding work with Together For Youth, a program of Lutheran Social Services aimed at LGBTQ+ youth and allies. Or maybe you’ve met Kathy at one of their Friends, Family & Allies support groups that they’ve been facilitating for years. If you haven’t met Kathy yet, we are excited to introduce you!
Kathy has also organized a vigil for Transgender Day of Remembrance every year for the past 12-ish years! Sean and Kathy discuss what that work has meant to Kathy, and why it’s so important for our community to honor and remember our trans siblings and relatives we’ve lost to violent transphobia and hatred.

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*GUEST STAR INFO: 
Kathy currently works at Harm Reduction Sisters as a program manager, but describes herself as also being a utility worker, office manager, and person who assists with HIV testing and syringe services. She previously worked for Lutheran Social Service for over 10 years, where she was director of Together for Youth, a support group for LGBTQIA2S+ youth and allied youth. The group continues to be a safe space for people aged 14-20 to connect with peers and resources to help them navigate life’s challenges. For her work with Together for Youth, Kathy was named a 2018 "Changemaker" by the Minnesota Women's Press.

*SHOW NOTES:
1) Harm Reduction Sisters – https://harmreductionsisters.org/

*NEXT EPISODE: 
Join us as we welcome Dr. Tara Richter on Wednesday, 12/3/25 at 12pm CST. Dr. Richter is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who practices gender and identity-affirming care, and has worked extensively with the 2SLGBTQAI+ community. 

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*ABOUT TRANS NORTHLAND: 
Trans Northland is a community nonprofit organization based in Duluth, MN that provides support, resources & connection to the transgender community. To learn more about Trans Northland, please visit https://www.transnorthland.org.

*SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST:
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/0SbKvmbuSCktbmwAiHGM0L?si=3692f1bd693e46dd
Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1858985328

*FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/transnorthland
Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/transnorthland

*SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL:
https://lb.benchmarkemail.com//listbuilder/signupnew?5hjt8JVutE4d7F6aYzgKZ%252F5pwVnAjsSIuJF20H2GrbbtO5iNRn8gS049TyW7spdJ

11/5/25 – Join us as Trans Northland welcomes the hilarious, Danielle Thralow (she/her)!

Sean and Danielle share a wonderful conversation where we get to learn more about Danielle’s story–how she always knew she was trans even though she didn’t have the words for it, how she took a chance on the “world wide web” in the early days which catapulted her businesses into success, and how she intentionally books comedy gigs in places that are not known to be the most trans-friendly places, because with every joke she shares, she also opens hearts and minds to the experiences of trans people.

Don’t miss her upcoming show where she’s headlining: the Beaver Moon Extravaganza – this music & comedy event is on Saturday, 11/8 starting at 5pm at Wussow’s in West Duluth!

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*GUEST STAR INFO: 
Danielle has performed throughout the United States, winning Miami’s Funniest and was first runner-up at ACME Comedy Club’s Funniest Person in the Twin Cities. Not only is she a hilarious comedian, she’s also a professional photographer with numerous credits, and she founded over 30 internet-based retail stores where each of her stores became the online global leader in its category. 

*SHOW NOTES:
1) Follow Danielle on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/danielle.thralow
2) Check out her website - http://www.xaos.com/

*NEXT EPISODE: 
Join us as we welcome longtime Northland community advocate, Kathy Hermes on Wednesday, 11/19/25 at 12pm CST. 

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*ABOUT TRANS NORTHLAND: 
Trans Northland is a community nonprofit organization based in Duluth, MN that provides support, resources & connection to the transgender community. To learn more about Trans Northland, please visit https://www.transnorthland.org.

*SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST:
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/0SbKvmbuSCktbmwAiHGM0L?si=3692f1bd693e46dd
Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1858985328

*FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/transnorthland
Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/transnorthland

*SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL:
https://lb.benchmarkemail.com//listbuilder/signupnew?5hjt8JVutE4d7F6aYzgKZ%252F5pwVnAjsSIuJF20H2GrbbtO5iNRn8gS049TyW7spdJ