Many Ways At Once

What does it mean to be transgender and what are the practical challenges faced by transgender persons? We are joined by Kris Undsderfer, a trans male, veteran and founder of Stand Up, a social group created to unify targeted and oppressed populations and support intersectional advancement. Joined by guest host Alma Lorraine Bone Constable, Justice and Kris discuss the process of of coming to their authentic identity, rising to the challenge posed by conservative policy and the 45 administration.

Today Justice Cālo Reign and Dr. LéNetta Banks facilitated a panel discussion around open, polyamorous, and/or sex-positive relationships. The panel consisted of a diverse group of people who subscribe to non-traditional relationships:

Tanya Brakeman, a self-described straight, monogamish, kinky, predominantly lifestyle Domina to power hungry submissive by occasion. Creator of Revel: The Audacity of Ecstasy, a course that helps people revive their original values sets and their unique power dynamic.

Jacob Rodvelt-Gamlieli, Gay Lover, Entertainer, Dance Instructor, Performing Artist, Comedian, Travel Enthusiast, Fitness Addict, and Event Organizer who flows between open and monogamous relationships.

Cathy Octave McGowen and Brian Gilmore: Brian self-identifies as a straight poly/swinger, and Cathy identifies as a Bi poly/swinger. They are both new to open relationships and in relationship with one another.

How does someone break away from the very strong societal pull to traditional relationships? How do these relationships work, and what, if any, is the benefit to them. We had a great conversation surrounding it all!

What can we learn from doing personal internal to transcend our own personal limits and work to move through fear and discomfort on a personal level, and how do the processes and lessons we experience in our personal work teach us about macro transformation of our communities and institutions.

What can we learn from doing personal internal work to transcend our own personal limits and move through fear and discomfort on a personal level, and how do the processes and lessons we experience in our personal work teach us about macro transformation of our communities and institutions.
Justice Cālo Reign and LeNetta Banks Williams use personal examples involving personal choices around education and self-expression to make the case for effective patterns of creating societal and institutional change.

Trump has been President for about 30 days, and it seems that Dr. Banks is going to have to talk Justice Cālo Reign down. This candid conversation between two coaches and friends was necessary in preserving sanity and practicing self-care.

We are so excited to bring our first international guest on the show in Australian, gender queer, author and writer, Foz Meadows. We had an intriguing dicussion on how some outside the US are dealing with and processing the moves of the Republican administration, and we talk about the power and the purpose behind intersectionality. What is it, and why is it important as we move forward toward a more equitable future.

Almond Brown is a DJ, producer, musician, singer, and personality and icon in the Seattle house music community. He's been a outspoken advocate for years and is not slowing down at all with the onslaught being waged against historically oppressed populations coming from the Trump regime.

We talk about how the entertainment industry can help or hurt the cause of freedom and equality.

Marching is not enough. We've go to participate in changing the system, and since economics rules the world, we brought on Rachel Williams, MBA, to talk about different entities that help us participate more in ownership and operations of business.

Rachel is a strategic idealist who loves to create alignment between big ideas and practical action. She is the owner and principle at Gift of Good Work, a consultancy providing business strategy and financial management support to business owners, entrepreneurs and organizations. Her diverse experience includes managing sales for her family's organic farm and managing home construction for Habitat for Humanity. She holds a MBA in Sustainable Systems from Bainbridge Graduate Institute, where she also served as a Teaching Fellow in Finance. Rachel currently lives and works in Port Towsend, WA, where she is immersed in exploring cooperative and collaborative models for doing business.

Of course, we lead with current events. Trump, DAPL, and more...

Our hosts were joined today by Jamie Carma Owens, co-founder of Earthship Seattle, a new organization that seeks to educate and pave the way for radically sustainable buildings. How can we learn more about alternative ways of living, and not just alternative facts?

We begin with the many current events from the week. The Injustice Boycotts full court press to #raisetheage and make sure the tragedy to Kalief Browder doesn't happen again. We spoke about the congressional hearing of Betsy Devos, the inauguration of President Trump, his administrations use of alternative facts, and the push back from 2.9 women/men all over the country who marched the next day.

Join us as we always remain, many ways at once.

On MLK Jr Day we are reminded of the leadership and organizing power that the Black church once had. Today it seems embroiled in scandal and political compromise. Our current events discussion led us to the death of Bishop Eddie Long and the impact religion continues to have on politics, the powerful scene on Black-ish, and Trump's latest Scandal.

Our discussion went many ways, but we settled on talking about hidden figures. Both the movie, and the countless people of color who have fought for, loved on, and advanced this country with little to know acknowledgement, or out right denial or burial of the truth.

Those of us who have been hidden, refuse to remain hidden any longer.

Part 2
All of our commentary around current events was leading into a conversation on identity formation and the influencing factors that shape it.

Joined by Lillian Afful-Straton, a performer, model, activist, entrepreneur, and the daughter of a Ghanian Chief and a Black American mother who lived in Detroit during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, raised in the suburbs of Seattle.

How do all of these external factors contribute to our identity formation and what does that mean in the world of identity politics and privilege?