LIVE with Trans Northland

Join us as Trans Northland welcomes Alex Iantaffi, Rachel Linder & Shelley Rorvick for Mental Health Awareness Month in May!

Alex (they/them) is an award-winning author, cultural worker, Internationally-renowned speaker, podcaster, family therapist, and Somatic ExperiencingⓇ practitioner.

Rachel (she/her) is a licensed professional counselor in Minnesota and Wisconsin. She specializes in work with LGBTQIA+ issues, including working with transgender and nonbinary individuals and youth.

Shelley (they/them) is a queer, nonbinary Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Sex Therapist in the Twin Ports. They are the owner of IGNITE Therapeutic Services, where they see people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and relational constellations.

We're excited to welcome Riley Barka to the Livestream!

Riley (he/him) is a local leader in community health with a strong commitment to advancing health equity for the LGBTQ+ community. As a registered nurse and the Director of Community Health for Blackboots Twin Ports, Riley has focused on building community partnerships through expanding access to health services and harm reduction supplies. He is passionate about addressing gaps in care that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.

Join us as Trans Northland welcomes Kobey Layne to the conversation!

Kobey (she/her) is a progressive DFL candidate running for Minnesota Governor this year. She is a renter in St. Paul and a community organizer in the Twin Cities trans community. She is one lead of Tea Time, the largest peer-led support network for Transfemmes in the Twin Cities. Kobey is running for Governor to make sure progressive intersectional values are represented in this race.

Show Notes:

Learn more about Kobey's campaign and get involved at: https://www.kobey4governor.com/

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!