A full transcript of this episode is now available at transandcaffeinated.com/transcripts

Venmo: @bloggerbrit

Twitter: @bloggerbrit

Instagram: @bloggerbrit

Buy Brit’s novel: All We’ve Ever Done

Brit Alexandria and I have confusingly parallel online presences. I’m a coffee person, they’re a coffee person. I run a coffee and trans stuff blog, they run a coffee and trans stuff blog. Both of our websites were nominated for Sprudgie awards, both of us write candidly about mental health and workplace advocacy. But earlier this year, Brit released a full-length, sci-fi fantasy novel, so I guess now I have to write a freaking book!

Brit, who is sometimes referenced (at least in my brainhole) by their longtime username “Blogger Brit” , has been writing online since 2006. Formerly a lifestyle blogger, Brit launched The Non-Binary Barista in early 2020 to give themselves—and the coffee community—a space to talk about coffee, fun little coffee experiments, disability justice, gender, workplace dynamics, and so much more, and to share resources for marginalized baristas. They also use their social media for similar purposes, and are constantly seeking new ways to show their support for people around them.

Brit just has lots of great thoughts about a whole array of different topics, and doesn’t tend to limit themselves to discussing or addressing any one particular thing—only that, from what I can see, pretty much everything they do both on and offline is filtered through their desire to make the world a kind, safer, happier, healthier place for others.

This episode mentions mental health, ableism, and workplace mistreatment.

This is Brit Alexandria on writing a novel, being “a lot,” and The Non-Binary Barista

Oh hey, there.

Oh, you work here?

Penis used to be there but now here you are all shiny and new and pretty and well…

And then four days later, when they removed the bandages, that resident assistant lady took one very intense look into your eyes… erm, eye… and said, “UGH! Rachel’s an artist!” and I looked down at you, and looked up at her and said “that’s art?!”

No, seriously, I said that. Or… I thought it really loudly? I don’t know, they still had me on that pain stuff, but you were categorically not cute back then. Art was a bit of a stretch.

But uh…. May I say. Now… now I see art.

I look at you and you’re a fucking masterpiece—my dazzling David chipped out of the metaphorical penile stone by my very own private Michaelangelo, AKA Rachel Bluebond-Langner at NYU Langone. And you’re mine. All mine, no one else’s. Nope, you’re mine.

No more staring at myself in undies in the mirror, dick yanked back between my buttcheeks and wishing my coochie would just sit nice and flat against my pelvis.

No more staring intensely at someone’s face as they take stock of my naked body for the first time, wondering what they’re thinking, wondering if they’re realizing they actually think my body is kind of gross and now they’re second guessing their impulsive decision to go home with that hot trans girl who absolutely wrecked them at pool in the back of Henrietta Hudson—not based on a real example… or several real examples.

Nope. None of that. Now, it’s just me and my pussy. My. Pussy.

I can’t wait for all the… climactic adventures we’re going to have together.

I’m very grateful that you are mine.

This episode mentions transphobia, discrimination, violence, genitals, sex, and surgery. It’s also… really funny, if I do say so myself.

This Very Special Episode of Trans and Caffeinated, I Went to NYU Langone and All I Got Was this Brand New Pussy, is brought to you in part by…

Otters, holding hands while they sleep… no wait, wrong episode.

Ah, yes, Anchor. Thanks Anchor. You’re a pal.

IG/Twitter: @meghanannette

Ca$happ: $MeghanAnnette

Venmo: @mrsgoodwin

Likewise Coffee

Canary Coffee Bar

US Coffee Championships

World Barista Championships

Coffee and Good Spirits

Glitter Cat bootcamps

Glitter Cat DiGiTiTiON

Cup Taster’s DiGiTiTiON

Getchu Some Gear

Black and White Coffee

Q Grader Certification

If you’re a coffee person like myself...which many of you are... chances are you’ve seen M-A Reida’s face flash across your timeline at least once or twice. Over the past few years, M-A has competed in a number of local and national coffee competitions and started to make quite a name for themselves. They placed second in the qualifier for Coffee in Good Spirits, a competition where coffee and liquor craft collide, and they placed second by a literal… second… in Glitter Cat Barista’s inaugural Coffee Taster’s DiGiTiTiON.

I know what you’re thinking—”wow, M-A Reida sounds so stinkin’ cool!” But to me, the coolest thing about M-A is their beautiful outlook on the world. “Love yourself. Love your friends. Say I love you, and say it often.” “Be present with people.” “Life is bigger than toasted seeds and water” These are just a few of the warm pretzel nuggets of wisdom that M-A dropped into my… erm, pretzel basket... throughout this episode.

Anyone who’s friends with M-A is better for it, and I think you’ll all be a little bit better for hearing them share.

This episode mentions the COVID pandemic and social isolation.

This is M-A Reida on being present, saying “I love you,” and saying it often

A full transcript of this episode is now available at https://transandcaffeinated.com/transcripts/

LINKS |

Hudson Valley Amps, Facebook/Instagram

www.morganrosedean.com

SOCIAL |

IG: @_morgandean_

Twitter: @_morgandean_

INFO |

Like many millennials, Morgan Dean grew up in a world controlled by a generation who were taught that feelings are private, and mental illness is shameful. As a child and into their adolescence, Morgan bounced from doctor to doctor, many of them suggesting that their symptoms were the result of various totally out-of-left-field physical ailments — when the truth was actually very simple: Morgan, like many young trans and non-binary people, was struggling with mental illness.

Today, after finally gaining access to proper medication and therapy, Morgan is happier than they ever thought possible. They move through the world with a simple mantra: “be who you needed when you were younger.”

Whether you like to cry at work, on the train, or compartmentalize until you can cry in private, Morgan wants to remind you that it is okay to struggle. And it’s also okay to get help.

This episode mentions depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, eatings disorders, drugs and alcohol, and societal stigma about mental illness and sex work.

This is Morgan Dean on drinking water, touching plants, and dancing in the rain

A transcript of this episode is now available at transandcaffeinated.com/transcripts/

PAYMENT |

Venmo: @charli-mandel

SOCIAL |

IG: @gnarli_xcx

LINKS |

Documentary: Fixed up - A Terrible Idea

Cycling Tips Article: Everesting on a Fixie with a Hormone Headwind

ABOUT |

It’s hard to know which one Charli Mandel learned first: how to walk, or how to ride a bike.

You know, come to think of it, you probably need to be able to walk before you can learn how to ride a bike… but if it were possible to ride a bike first, I’m pretty sure Charli would have done it.

Because from the time she was itty bitty teeny tiny, Charli. Loved. Bikes. Starting at just 4 years old on a little Rhino Racer mini, they would eventually go on to set their very own world record.

This episode mentions transphobia, misgendering, and biking injuries

This is Charli Mandel on the World’s VERY FIRST Fixed Gear Brakeless Everesting

Not sure what that means? I didn’t at first either, but that’s what this interview is for, silly billy! Looks like you came to the right place...

PAYMENT

Venmo: @bleeeeeez

SOCIAL

IG: @Getchu some gear 

Twitter: @Getchu some gear

ABOUT

Bok bok.

Who’s there?

Chris Mcauley.

Chris Mcauley who?

Did you know that Chris Mcauley has chickens? It’s definitely not the coolest thing about him, but it’s up there.

Chris Mcauley is the founder of Getchu Some Gear, which he launched a little under two years ago alongside his partner, Chelsea. Getchu set out to hook up marginalized coffee workers with free coffee stuff, but they’ve since expanded the scope of their work tremendously: first with Getchu a Job, which provides free resume assistance and resources for baristas… then Getchu a Grant, which earlier this year helped distribute $60,000.00 to historically marginalized coffee business owners. They also provide free coffee education, and recently roasted their own “Getchu” coffee for the very first time.

Getchu Some Gear is Chris’ “love letter to the coffee family” and this shows in everything that they do.

You might be wondering, what’s next for Chris? And the truth is, I don’t really know. Getchu Some Soap, maybe? Getchu Some Eggs? What I do know is that, whatever it is, it’s going to make the world a better place — because, like Chris says, “we’ve got us.”

This episode mentions the white, cis hetero, ableist patiarchy of the coffee industry and beyond.

A transcript of this episode is now available at transandcaffeinated.com/transcripts

This is Chris Mcauley on wacky animals, the new Double Bubble, and Getchu Some Gear

When is the last time you laid down on your bed with a sweet, purring cat curled up on your chest, took a long, deep breath, and remembered to forget the world, if only for a moment? If your answer is “never” or “I can’t remember,” then take a second—if you can—to do that right now. Pause this episode, take a deep breath in, take an even longer breath out, ground yourself in this moment, and remind yourself that it is okay to just be.

This is what Mx. Lex Pe’er Horwitz wants you to remember: that you are enough. That you are okay. That your understanding of yourself and your identity does not have to conform to some pre-scripted road map in order for your experiences and your self-knowledge to be valid.

You are trans enough. You are queer enough. You are right where you need to be.

A jack of many trades—and equally gifted in all of them—Lex shares unique and often profound perspectives about gender and sexuality, transition, mental health, the magic of fur babies, and just life in general. Our conversation was every bit as thought-provoking and transformative as it was hopeful and warm, and you will walk away from this episode having learned something, or multiple somethings, or thinking about parts of the world in a whole new way.

This episode mentions gender dysphoria, gender-based trauma, transphobia, homophobia, racism, depression, and suicide.

A full transcript of this episode is now available at transandcaffeinated.com/transcripts

This is Mx. Lex Pe’er Horwitz on dismantling the road maps of gender transition

IG: @lex_horwitz

Twitter: @lex_horwitz

TikTok: @lex_horwitz

Facebook: Mx. Lex Horwitz 

Youtube: Mx. Lex Horwitz

Beacons: @lex_horwitz

www.lexhorwitz.com

Patreon: Mx. Lex Horwitz

Venmo: @lex_horwitz

CashApp: $LexHorwitz

PayPal: MxLexHorwitz

Direct Donations

Beacons: @lex_horwitz

Have you heard of Felix Tran? ...no? Well, that’s surprising!

Felix is a Seattle-based, Vietnamese-American, transgender artist voted most likely to have huge bursts of energy at 1:00 AM and work until 5:00.

A little under two years ago, Felix co-founded and designed a logo for Coffee at Large—or “CAL”—which launched with a barista-led coffee-shop walkout that rocked the coffee world. Within days, everybody and their cousin had set CAL’s logo as their Instagram profile picture, in solidarity with industry workers facing workplace mistreatment.

Felix—also known by their impulsively yet aptly-named art alter-ego softvelvetboy—has since become one of the industry’s go-to digital illustrators and graphic designers. Felix is hugely self-aware, and I constantly admire their commitment to growth—both as a person, and as an artist.

This episode mentions sex and genitals, cancel culture, the prison-industrial complex, workplace mistreatment, hormones, and transmedicalism.

This is Felix Tran on cancel culture, being horny, and softvelvetboy

SOCIAL

@softvelvetboy

@coffeeatlarge

@fuelcoffeeseattle

@union_coffee_

LINKS

softvelvetboy

Living Artists Collective

It’s never easy to navigate the dichotomy of upholding anti-capitalist principles and beliefs while running a for-profit business—but Cheyenne Xochítl Love remains mindful of this balance, while learning new skills along the way.

Cheyenne is the Indigenous, two-spirit, non-binary trans girl behind Queer Wave Coffee, where she roasts Honduran coffee on Chochenyo Ohlone land or precolonized Oakland, CA.

For her, being queer means that we create new avenues that allow us to break free from the straight, binary, and oppressive path we have been taught. This goes not only for gender and sexuality, but also for the fundamentally anti-nature manner of existence to which we are expected to adhere.

Cheyenne contests the notion that diversity and inclusion efforts are a panacea for workplace oppression, instead challenging employers to emphasize which groups they exclude. She proudly displays “1312” in the bottom corner of each of her bags, and publicly shares her commitment to dismantle patriarchy, white supremacy, and other oppressions in both her professional and private life.

This episode mentions police violence, white supremacy, violence toward and erasure of Indigenous people and identities, COVID-19, and patriarchy.

This is Cheyenne Xochítl Love on rejecting your bullshit “inclusive” paradigm

SOCIAL

Personal IG: @cheyenne_xochitl_love

Business IG: @queerwavecoffee

LINKS

Queer Wave Coffee

Mar León is a lot like nature: their gender cycles with the passage of each season, they are justifiably angry about the impact of capitalism, and they are tired of white people-centric approaches to problem-solving.

Mar is raising their voice and fighting for justice in the face of oppressive systems designed to disempower their communities. As a disability justice advocate, Mar’s efforts are focused through the lens of community care, interdependence, and communal abundance-making, with the understanding that scarcity is falsely created by state control over our resources.

Through their poetry, Mar highlights their experiences as a disabled, gender cyclical, non-binary Boricua in the often visceral texts of “bible perverses” and monster literature, in which they reclaim the ableist trope of “monsterhood.”

I learned a lot from Mar in our time together, and I’m confident that you will, too.

This episode mentions ableism, codependency, police brutality, environmental racism, and white supremacy.

This is Mar León on being the monster that’s under your bed.

LINKS

Patty Burns — 10 Principles of Disability Justice (Sins Invalid Art Performance Collective)

Mutual Aid is Abolition Work — Slides & Recording (Black Abolitionist Network)

*”Communal abundance-making” is a term originally coined by Ameenah Rashid

SOCIAL

IG: @onmybex_behavior

Vemmo: @BexLeon