Meet your hosts, Kiebpoli Calnek (they/them) and Erik Harris (he/him), along with the 10 storytellers who were chosen in a national call to perform in TMI Project’s first-ever Black Trans Stories Matter program, spearheaded by ballroom icon, actress, and activist Ms. Cece Suazo (she/her) whose own story is featured in the season finale.  

In 2021, in the thick of the pandemic, TMI Project conducted a national call for our first-ever Black Trans Stories Matter program. The trailer for Season 5 of The TMI Project Podcast: Black Trans Stories Matter introduces you to the 10 storytellers who were chosen, all of whom performed their true stories on Zoom for audiences around the world, and the creator, Ms. Ceece Suazo. The performance was a culmination of a true storytelling workshop led by Kiebpoli Calnek and Erik Harris. This season features the recording of those inaugural stories, along with interviews with each storyteller, and is accompanied by a listening and discussion guide to inspire deep introspection, a willingness to transform oneself, and take bold action to end systemic racism and transphobia. We hope these stories inspire you to take action to create a world where we can all live our truth with safety and freedom.

A note from Season 5 hosts, Kiebpoli and Erik, for our Black trans and gender-expansive listeners, “We welcome you. This community is for you. It doesn’t matter where you come from, your size, religion, sexual orientation, or what you got in your pocket. You are welcome here, and we love you.”

TMI Project Staff

• Eva Tenuto (she/her), Executive and Artistic Director / Co-founder
• Blake Pfeil (he/him), Operations and Programs Manager
• Laura Marie Ruocco (she/her), Marketing and Digital Coordinator

This episode was mixed/mastered by Stevie Manns (they/them) and produced in partnership with Radio Kingston. TMI Project’s Black Trans Stories Matter program was created by Cece Suazo (she/her).

We encourage you to listen in community and utilize this helpful resource: Black Trans Stories Matter: A Listening and Discussion Guide

Our next live performance of Black Trans Stories Matter will be in June 2023. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to find out about the details and reserve your seat!

If you believe Storytelling is Social Justice and want to support TMI Project’s creation and amplification of true stories you can make a contribution HERE.

Links

• https://www.tmiproject.org
• https://www.instagram.com/tmiproject
• https://www.facebook.com/tmiproject
• https://www.tiktok.com/@tmiproject
• Radiokingston.org