Music, Memory, and Resistance with Lisa Rhodes

This episode offers a reminder that visibility can be creative, collective, and deeply personal. Lisa Rhodes joins Melodie KG and Mattie Bynum for a conversation about art as activism, queer history, and the power of public storytelling. Drawing from her work as both a musician and scholar, Lisa explores how songs invite emotional conversations that speeches alone may not reach. She discusses the ongoing stakes of queer visibility, from censorship in public spaces to the importance of preserving stories across generations. She talks about finding a new creative community and home in Durham, North Carolina. Lisa also shares the vision behind Sweet Queer: A Celebration of Us, a multimedia performance that uses music and history to build empathy and connection. Together, the hosts and Lisa imagine a queer future rooted in love, collaboration, rightness, and community beyond corporate Pride.