Justice, Community, and Clearing the Path with Adam Henderson #64
What if the phrase “second chance” is itself the problem? Adam Henderson, VP of Sales at Orijin, opens this conversation with Shane Lukas and Mattie Bynum by challenging a widely-used framing — arguing that for many incarcerated people, it was never a first chance to begin with. The episode maps what’s possible: Massachusetts’ model of […]
Ritual, Roots, and Radical Selfhood with River Coello #63
Co-hosts Melody KG and Mattie Bynum dig into the deeper currents of River Coello’s work, exploring what gets erased when colonial systems take hold — and what endures anyway. As a PhD candidate in anthropology at UCF, River has traced the quiet persistence of Indigenous wisdom throughout the history of the field, arguing that Indigenous […]
Logging Off, Showing Up, and Organizing with Cayden Mak #62
What happens when the internet turns politics into a consumer activity — something you watch, share, and feel, rather than something you do? Cayden Mak, publisher of Convergence magazine and host of Block and Build, joins co-hosts Daniel W.K. Lee and Kenyon Farrow to untangle the structural forces shaping digital organizing, from Shoshana Zuboff’s surveillance […]
History, Hollywood Hustle, and the Lavender Scare with Lisa Cordileone #61
The Lavender Scare — the 60-year federal policy that allowed gay people to be legally fired from government jobs — is the subject of Lisa Cordileone’s historical fiction TV series Committed, and in conversation with co-hosts Kenyon Farrow and Mattie Bynum, she makes a compelling case that its echoes are very much present today. Lisa […]
Art, Community, and Change with Jordan Robinson #60
Description: What happens when creativity meets civic engagement? Jordan Robinson explains how his experiences in education, museums, and community programming inspired him to build projects that create both beauty and impact. From transforming neglected spaces into playgrounds to organizing exhibitions that spark meaningful dialogue, he demonstrates how art can help communities connect, heal, and grow. […]
Reply All: One Year, Real Wins, and Nuclear Family Nonsense #59
A year after launch, Power Beyond Pride takes stock of what real progress looks like when the broader political landscape is hostile. Join hosts Mattie Bynum, Daniel WK Lee, Hunter, Melodie Garcia, and Shane Lukas surface concrete wins—sex workers organizing mutual aid and a gun club during Minneapolis ICE raids, progressive electoral gains from leaders […]
Visibility, Humor and Trans Stories with Tony Zosherafatain #58
Description: Daniel W.K. Lee and Mattie Bynum sit down with filmmaker and documentarian Tony Zosherafatain to unpack the emotional impact of telling trans stories in today’s political climate. Tony reflects on how his own transition inspired his filmmaking journey and discusses the deep connections he formed with the people featured in Trans in Trumpland. The […]
History, Trans Legacy, and Courage with Sophie Edwards #57
Description: This episode explores why history matters in the fight for LGBTQ+ visibility and belonging. Sophie Edwards discusses the importance of creating trans-centered educational content that goes beyond explaining trans people to cis audiences and instead helps trans people understand their own historical legacy. The conversation examines healthcare, gender-affirming care, political challenges facing queer communities […]
Identity, Empathy, and Power with JD Valadares Williams #56
Description: JD Valadares Williams joins the hosts to explore how emotional intelligence shapes the way we connect, lead, and advocate for change. Drawing from their upbringing in Peru and experiences with migration, JD shares how empathy is built through lived experience rather than logic alone. The conversation highlights how emotional storytelling—rather than debate—can shift hearts […]
Poetry, Power, and Perspective with Daniel WK Lee #55
Description: In this episode, Melodie KG and Kate sit down with poet, author, and activist Daniel WK Lee for a conversation that moves between humor, lived experience, and urgent global realities. Daniel reflects on how his life as a third-generation refugee and his journey through multiple cities have shaped both his worldview and his creative […]