Ritual, Roots, and Radical Selfhood with River Coello

River Coello

I feel like performance has been with me forever, but I've also always been appreciative of those, I guess just circles around the fire, right? Or around a meal where my family got a chance to just tell a story. If it feels honest, it's because it's just. It's a snippet, right, of what the process was like. It is certainly not only poetry, but then again, what is poetry? Maybe poetry is this right now, this exchange, this conversation. And so it's so rich, I think,.

Melodie KG

foreign. Hello and welcome to Power Beyond Pride, a weekly queer change making podcast bringing you voices and ideas from across our fierce and fabulous spectrum to transform our world. I'm Melodie KG, a provocateur from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Mattie Bynum

And hi, I'm Mattie Bynum. You're the co host today. I am a comedian, actress, lover of all things, passionate about most things, and creative about that is just me. And we are your co hosts today on this queer cast journey. In today's episode, we will be talking with the beautiful, outstanding River Coello. And, uh, before I say anything else, y', all, y' all have to understand, the hair is haring, the skin is skinning, and the radiant is radiating from this beautiful being.

Melodie KG

Glowing.

Mattie Bynum

Okay, all the way. I love it. They are a writer, translator, performer, visual artist, facilitator, speaker, and researcher. River has been called a cultural weaver. River is known for dancing between ancestral and personal memory, documenting spiritual discoveries through performance, visual media, and writing. Welcome, river, to the show.

River Coello

Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited to be here. And, um, what an introduction.

Melodie KG

Yeah, the intro is, uh, merely a freckle of all of the things that I'm sure you, you put into the world. So thank you for being you and for. For coming on today's podcast. Would love to hear from you. Uh, what is. What is meant by the term cultural weaver when you describe yourself as such? What does that mean? It's beautiful.

River Coello

Thank you. That actually came to me in a dream. I've been spending a lot of time reconnecting with my Andean ancestry and in particular my indigenous roots. And I've done a lot of work

Mattie Bynum

around,

River Coello

And in that dream, I was weaving much like my ancestors were, especially my feminine. And I imagine my trans feminine ancestors or even my androgynous ancestors as I like to imagine them and it made a lot of sense. When I look at my work, my artistic work, but also my research, also my facilitation style. I'm always trying to make sense of things that seem desperate, seem like they don't go together. But I find the beauty in trying to weave them together. I see that in my gender presentation, for example. I think a lot of people don't often know what. What to make sense of. Of me. But I like to embody both of my energies.

Mattie Bynum

Right.

River Coello

Where I can spot. Yes. How different they are. But I suppose the great opportunity there is to bring them together.

Mattie Bynum

That's beautiful, you know, and. And that's something I can relate to you with. I love being a conversational starter too. So I think that is the beautiful thing about your essence. So, uh, real quickly, if you can take us back to the beginning. How did river become River? How did you become a cultural weaver? How do you. Did you become a conversational starter?

River Coello

I feel like all my life I've been a bit of a queerdo is how I like to tell people about it, I suppose. But I was always, uh, I guess kind of looking inward from the margins and recognizing that some of us just unfortunately don't have the same kind of access or acceptance. And from a very young age, I was very rattled by injustice. I saw it in my own family, uh, especially along racial lines or class lines. And that really bothered me as a curious child. And so I had this kind of wild curiosity and imagination, I'm sure. And I was always drawn to especially the written word.

Mattie Bynum

Right.

River Coello

Was it histrionic? At times I'm. But I couldn't let it go. And as I learned more about the world. Because I'm a total nerd, right. As you'll come to find out, the more fed up I got and the. The more I wanted to do something about it. And I think for me, culture, right. Being a cultural weaver is, uh, an important place for. For change.

Mattie Bynum

Right.

River Coello

And I want to say, I guess it was around 20, it's been about a decade now of me being outwardly trans and some more years being outwardly queer. Uh, but that journey has been really, really beautiful, really difficult as well as you can Imagine. But I found a lot of freedom in just letting go of the social scripts, letting go of, uh, what people expect of you, and just finding where your joy is. I joke about this a lot, but as difficult as the pandemic was for the world.

Mattie Bynum

Right.

River Coello

And continues to be, the space, the introverted space that it gave me to explore everywhere I could go was like a beautiful gift. It really was. And, um, I'm very, very grateful for it. I think that's where river kind of got solidified as a, uh, as an energy, I suppose. Yeah. And I've always. I've always been feminine, but I've never hated my. My boyhood necessarily. And so I try to live in a way that brings them together.

Melodie KG

That's incredible. I love what you said too, about the pandemic sort of giving you the space you needed to, uh, cultivate or refine or however you want to describe your energies. And I can definitely relate to that. The stillness, that kind of the lockdown and all the things that came with it really, really pressed a lot of us to do some inner work. Not all of us as

Mattie Bynum

well.

Melodie KG

Right. But for those of us who did, who really took that time to rebuild, reform, rediscover, um, it was truly a. Almost. Almost a blessing despite the, uh, horribleness

Mattie Bynum

that were happening outside.

Melodie KG

So I'm really glad that you had that experience and emerged this beautiful weaver of things I would love to hear more about, especially how your connection to your Andean heritage has allowed you to sort of facilitate space for others to connect with who you are and how you're sort of pulling on that thread and weaving it into your work.

River Coello

And I've always had this curiosity about, I think especially our indigenous ancestry. I think my journey through. Unfortunately, this is not the case for everybody. But, uh, as a queer and trans person, my journey through Christianity in the church was challenging, if not traumatic. And I've always been curious about other models. Right. I figured there had to be something different, perhaps something that came before it in our region. So I've always been curious about that history. Right. That's been, I mean, quite frankly, systemically erased. But even in the spaces where it continues to exist, it's just kind of forgotten or not prioritized. And so I've always had this immense curiosity about, well, how were we as, uh. Queer and trans bodies existing in our, in our land right before colonization took all of that away. And that's translated to the research that I do now. I'm, um, a PhD student at UCF here in Orlando, which is where I'm based. But I also bring everything that I've learned, especially from spiritual guides and teachers from Ecuador and Peru, which is where I've primarily focused into my facilitation work. Whenever I'm facilitating a creative workshop, for example, I'm bringing our cosmo vision into it. Our sacred animals, our conversations with the elements, the stars, the, the sun and the moon, and so much more. And then all of that comes through in my writing as well. Hampi, which is the multimedia collection that I released early last year, has all of these elements. It really chronicles my journey to. And um, through my, my reconnection to the ending Cosmovision. And I think it's really resonated with some really wonderful folks out there. And I'm so happy that it's had that effect. For sure.

Mattie Bynum

Yes. Uh, you know, when I was reading about you and I was looking into the. You was talking about the third gender and your research and all that, it really did, uh, I'm not gonna lie. Like, I had to call our producer and I was like, yo, I'm learning so much and I'm loving it because I think that that is something. Being a spiritual person raised in the Christianity faith like you, I think it's good that we can have multiple conversations about deity, we can have multiple conversations about transfiguration, we can have multiple conversations about those things. Because when we allow ourselves to stay in just one concept and look at just from a micro lens of a religion that was created by men, let's be honest, this was a, a religion. It's not a spirituality, but a religion. And we type ourselves that we don't even realize that we inherently make ourselves ignorant and our generations to come ignorant because we don't allow ourselves to explore and expand. And I think that is interesting because I, uh, wanted to ask you what was your earliest m memory m between your connection of spirituality, religion, and who river is in general?

River Coello

Mhm. I think I always, and I mentioned this earlier a little bit, but I think I always did feel like an outsider.

Mattie Bynum

Right.

River Coello

That was quite literally the, the framing, this isn't of uh, God, but I, and I'm grateful for this about my, my younger self. I've always been a bit rebellious as well. And there was just something that I was like, it just, it's not sitting right in the spirit for me. It, something's off. I hear this and I know that these are spiritual leaders, but something doesn't feel right about me being wrong when I haven't chosen a single thing, right? I just, I'm just alive. And so later on in life when, when I found the kariwarmi, when I found other especially indigenous expressions of these third genders, I was like relieved. I was so affirmed that this had always been around, this had always existed and that uh, I could just tap into that power, connect with those ancestors and find my way like they did. And it was not easy for them. Many we've lost even in contemporary times, right? I mean trans women, especially trans women of color are persecuted in our societies. Let's be real. We are trying to be uh, ourselves, but, but the, the world resists that power, I think. And I think of it as a mirror because we embody possibility and I think sometimes that can be really scary for people, especially systems, right. That are kind of hell bent and controlling us.

Melodie KG

And we're so glad you did. That's, that's incredible. We do have to take a quick break, but please stay tuned to this incredible episode of um, Power Beyond Pride with the inspiring River Plain. Welcome back. This is Power Beyond Pride, a queer change making podcast and I'm Melodie KG here with my incredible co host Mattie Bynum.

Mattie Bynum

Hi.

Melodie KG

And we are here talking with the incredible River Coello. Uh, river, you're a multi award winning author, poet. All of the things I would love to, if you don't mind, hear just a little bit of your style, Your character through whatever medium you would like, particularly if there's a, ah, passage of Hampti that you would like to share. I would just love to hear and have the listeners hear what it is you do and how you express yourself.

River Coello

Thank you for the opportunity, I appreciate that and I, I like the idea of letting the work Speak for itself. So I'm gonna read just the, uh, the very intro of the book, which I think really tells you about, well, what. What that journey was like for me. And, yeah, it sets everything into motion. So without further ado, here's the beginning of Hampi Mama Kiyan.

Mattie Bynum

Um.

River Coello

Uh. On the most recent total solar eclipse, our mother moon revealed herself to me. She brought with her a gift for me. Are you ready to learn my medicine? What heals your soul will heal your world. She brought with her an ask for me.

Mattie Bynum

And that's, uh.

Melodie KG

It. That was beautiful. I got chills.

Mattie Bynum

I was about to say, first off, when you speak in your tongue, that. That alone, I could have just listened to you read that way. Oh, my God. That was beautiful.

Melodie KG

Yeah.

Mattie Bynum

And, um, the me. The deafness of that. Beautiful, Beautiful.

River Coello

Thank you.

Mattie Bynum

When you write, what is your process? What? What, What. How do you put such an essence of yourself into your, um, writing? So that as we read it, we can. It made me feel like I was really sitting with you. Like, I really felt you through the words.

River Coello

M. Thank you. I think I've been a performance since I was three years old. I remember I would grab, I don't know, my mother's belt, and I would use it as my microphone, and I was like, all right, time for me to perform Shakira, uh, whom I was obsessed with, of course.

Mattie Bynum

Yes.

River Coello

Um, and so I feel like performance has been with me forever. But I've also always been appreciative of those, I guess, just circles around the fire. Right. Or around a meal where my family got a chance to just tell a story. And I have, I think, the privilege of having grown up with magical realism as well. That's just so Latin American. It's just. I think it's unshakable. You can't really remove it, uh, from. From our essence. You know, it's the work that we read. And so I've always felt really drawn to where our reality and magic intersect. And so when it comes to my process, I start there. I start in a place that isn't fully here nor there. Uh, and as much as it is about putting pen to paper, it's also about, well, how does it feel in the body? I can't separate it from performance and ritual, I think, in particular. And this book, as it was quite literally about reconnecting with indigenous spirituality, was. Was all about writing through ritual, through prayer, through conversations with. With sacred animals, sacred beings, with the stars. And so if it feels honest.

Mattie Bynum

Right.

River Coello

Of what the process was like. It's. It's real and it's longing, I guess. Right. Like when you are searching for connection, you can't help but to be yourself. Or at least I hope so. Right. And that's where this book met me. And I guess it is where it's meeting you now. But, yeah, that's a bit about my process. I. It is certainly not only poetry. It is. But then again, what is poetry? Maybe poetry is.

Melodie KG

For all of us to, as you said in. In the passage, sort of relinquish your shield. Right. Sort of be neither here nor there and tap into whatever that is for. For yourself. Because that's where the artistry can really come alive within you and then also transform our world. It's just such a. Such a powerful message. Uh, so poignant, uh, and so salient, especially in these times. Right. Just, uh, beautiful. I would love to hear from you, as someone getting a PhD in anthropology, how you. How you sort of both contend with the. The institution of higher education, being someone who's so rooted in ancestral and spirituality and what it is you're doing with that work and. And sort of what you.

River Coello

Yeah. Spent a lot of time this summer, in particular, looking at the history of the field of anthropology and in particular American anthropology. And as you may imagine, it's. It's very complicated, very problematic. But in that, uh, research, I too found Indigenous voices.

Mattie Bynum

Right.

River Coello

And the overriding feeling that I got was that we've always been in it. Right. Our voices were shaping a lot of thought and always have been. We've just had to be crafty and resourceful and covert, even in how we code our wisdom and our knowledge for. For the world to enjoy and make use of. And so, yes, for every story where there was dispossession and disenfranchisement and just oppression, there's also stories of Indigenous wisdom, um, just somehow breaking through. I think, even in the context of American anthropology.

Mattie Bynum

Right.

River Coello

Which is, again, so problematic. It stands out in the sense that it was still kind of curious, I guess, about, well, are we inherently different because of our race, for example? Maybe we're not. And that, to me, and from what I've read and researched, that's just Indigenous wisdom. When white scholars throughout the history of the field have put that forward, that's really just them, um, channeling the wisdom of the indigenous folks that they interviewed because they knew that so wholeheartedly.

Mattie Bynum

Right.

River Coello

But I do think there is a sense of reciprocity and mutual respect, regardless of. Of affiliation or place, that's been present in our histories, pre colonization in particular, and throughout it. That kind of, I guess, seeps through. And, uh, I guess I draw from that, uh, power and those principles, and I see myself as just a continuation of that work. And more explicitly, outwardly, that I am a Brown scholar. I am proud of my indigeneity. I am proud of my queerness and transness. And you will feel that in my work. And when I connect with folks that are like me or unlike me, I will bring my full self to it. And in no part of my work will I be spousing anything around disconnection, but the complete opposite, connection and empowerment. Yeah, I think that's how I kind of negotiate my presence in the field. I feel like we've always been in it. We can't really help but to be part of systems, unfortunately. Right. Of course, we could create solutions outside of them, and I really believe in them, and mutual aid and in creating work that exists outside of institutions that were not created for you. All of that is very important. And also, we can't help but to be where we are. And so how do we make the most out of it? And I think that's just as authentically as possible. But it does take a lot of work and a lot of guts, I think. And how I protect myself is just to remember, uh, my why and connect with my why. Because really, my why is people. My people. Right. Our people.

Mattie Bynum

Beautiful. Most definitely. And since we're somewhat on that topic, I do want to get just a little political for two seconds. I'm always that person that wants to bring in politics. But with right now, in 2025, we're dealing with so many things being overturned in our country. Civil rights legislation, rights, especially for the LGBT community. And Florida being a, uh, state that has very loudly spoken out against lgbtq, LGBT communities and different rights for women in general. What is the current climate in Florida, especially in Orlando? Orlando is known to have its little hot moments. So how is, how is it down there?

River Coello

But I will say it is home, right? And I get protective because, yes, some Floridians are Florida man, I suppose, and they are how they are, can't help themselves and unfortunately they've amassed so much power. But I think the resistance is just as strong and beautiful. I think a lot of people don't know that Florida has one of the largest trans populations in the country. I think a lot of people don't know, right, that uh, for every bill that wants to pass, there's just a strong opposition. And I do think a lot of these more liberal cities are the places where that resistance. Right. Takes root. But we're everywhere, we're all throughout the state, right? And so I am in awe of the work that happens here, the networks that get created in response to this really alienating, uh, climate. And I am honored to in my own little way be part of it just, just by being visible. I think it's a, it's a very big thing to do when, when folks wanna, I guess, tuck you away. And one more thing I wanted to say in, in this regard, I suppose, is that uh, when the heat, right, is as high as it is, it's never more important to cultivate hope. And I see that all around me, I really do, every day here that I'm at a, at a queer, trans women led, poc, led event or initiative. I feel it, I, uh, really do.

Mattie Bynum

Incredible.

Melodie KG

Absolutely. I love to hear folks from Florida really own the fact that Florida is home ownership for, for you, for other folks. Because I think being not from Florida, we hear a lot of this Florida man, and, and like Florida's terrible for trans people and it's like, well, but we're here, we, we're, we're living here, we're thriving here and it's always been bad for us kind of wherever. So it's really beautiful. So thank you for, for bringing us back to that, but let's take another short break here and please stay with us because we will be back in just A minute to share some fun facts, plus a speed round of questions to get to know river better.

Mattie Bynum

And welcome back. We are here at Power Beyond Pride, talking with the illustrious river, um, Coello. And I am with one of your hosts, Mattie Bynum, sitting here with my beautiful co host, miss Melodie KG. River, I do want to ask a quick question because you have traveled all over abroad domestically. So what is one place or, uh, where is one place that you have done speaking or performances that has really stuck out to you? Whether it be fun, memorable, not so fun memorable, or just very enlightening?

River Coello

Mm. I will say Chicago was a big part of my life for many years, and I got the opportunity to share my work in various different places there. And I always loved feeling very replenished and inspired. Chicago is fucking cool. And trans people there are amazing too. So, yeah, I owe a lot of my growth to that wonderful city and I find myself back there quite a bit.

Mattie Bynum

Okay. And you know, they do have the best pizza. I do love me some Giordano's. So I'm right there with you.

Melodie KG

And I hard disagree. I love Chicago and New York. Pizza in so late.

Mattie Bynum

Okay, okay. I said the fifth.

River Coello

I will stay out of this. I am Switzerland in this debate.

Mattie Bynum

I mean New York. Okay, so let's say it like this. New York in itself is an equivalent of pie. All day, all day, every day. It is the best pizza. However, if you do like deep dish, I will say Giordano's is another good. We just leave Detroit all the way out between the water and the pizza and the drama we just don't like anyway. So, you know, we just gonna stick with Chicago and New York.

Melodie KG

I love it. What's next on the horizon for River? What are some things we can look out for and look forward to coming out from you in, uh, this beautiful brain and hair, mane of hair and spirit.

Mattie Bynum

Can we just take a moment for the hair? Can we just take a moment of silence for the hair?

River Coello

Let's do that. It's beautiful.

Melodie KG

Y.

Mattie Bynum

If y' all don't know, please go to River's Instagram. We will put all the social media at the end of the show, but you have got to go. There is one iconic picture of the flip over that river has. Yes. Okay, go ahead. Sorry.

River Coello

And maybe in the future also bring it to other places. So if cities are interested in this work, please reach out. I think that's the immediate next stage of this project. Right? It always has been a multimedia project and so to bring it to space just feels super fitting. And there will be performance components as well. And I'm excited to be going to Europe next summer to develop Pompe as a solo show. I worked on recording the audiobook for it with Jack Straw as well this past summer. And I'm sure that will be part of the solo show and I'm excited to develop it over there. So yeah, Hampi continues. But in the background, I'm also working on a new collection and of course I will be working on my dissertation for school soon enough. And so I am seeing where those things. Huh huh. You guessed it. Intersect as I am a weaver after all, and I'm excited for what's to come.

Mattie Bynum

Um.

River Coello

Um. I'm feeling some. Some really good momentum and I'm. I'm very grateful for all my collaborators because we just don't do anything alone. So, yeah, these next stages are very much something to look forward to. And if you want to stay in the loop, you absolutely can follow me on social media. It's just my first and last, so.

Mattie Bynum

My dad used to always say, if you stay ready, you ain't got to get ready. So staying busy is always the way to be. So, river, at this time we are getting into our speed question round of the show. Like I told you during the break, this is the part where we get just a little more intrusive, a little bit more invasive, and maybe just a little bit scandalous. Okay, so are you ready to take the plunge? Do you choose?

Melodie KG

Oh.

Mattie Bynum

All right. Well, Melodie, kick us off.

Melodie KG

What's your favorite midnight snack?

River Coello

My favorite midnight snack? Arepas. Oh my goodness.

Melodie KG

Yes.

River Coello

Oh my goodness. Mm. Some pan de yuca as well. Mm. I'm here for anything that has cheese. Honestly.

Melodie KG

Heck yeah.

Mattie Bynum

Most definitely. Matter of fact, I think I was eating macaroni salad at one o' clock this morning. So I'm right there with you. With some good old cheese mixed in.

Melodie KG

Yes.

Mattie Bynum

Barbecue sauce. Hard times, you ain't know. That's another tangent we gave. We ain't got time for that. But yes, we always have to doctor everything up. Nothing is never spicy enough for us. I love it. Name one person, past or present, that motivates you to be who you are today.

Melodie KG

Hmm.

River Coello

Mhm. I'm just gonna say my ancestors, my. My transesters in Particular, for sure. Yeah. I don't know that I can name just one person. I'm so inspired by the past in so many different ways. So, yeah, just the transesters, for sure. They keep me powerful.

Melodie KG

Amazing. Are you a cat person or a dog person?

River Coello

I am a pet person. I love them all. I love them both. I have a dog, Teddy, but if I could. My partner is allergic to cats. I would have a cat. Yeah, I just. Oh, my goodness. I just love a fur baby.

Mattie Bynum

Yeah. Uh, okay. Very diplomatic. You. You played the fifth on pizza, and now you are right down the middle when it comes to pets. I like it. I like it. It's safe, acute.

River Coello

It's truthful.

Mattie Bynum

So, river, what would be the ideal first date for you?

River Coello

I. Oh, my goodness. That's a good one. I am, um. I mean, I, uh, love to talk. So I'm. I'm thinking. And I'm an artist. I'm like. Maybe like a little gallery exhibition followed by, like, a little local coffee shop conversation with some good, good coffee. That sounds really good. A little dessert moment. Just something that feels intimate, and I can. Yeah. Just. Just be myself around you.

Mattie Bynum

Love that someone has watched a movie to photograph.

River Coello

I have not, but I may have to.

Mattie Bynum

Yes, it's a really good movie, and it starts out with that. They meet at an art gallery and go have coffee. I think that's so cute. Perfect.

Melodie KG

River, do you still get nervous to get up and speak in front of people or perform all the time?

River Coello

Absolutely. I think if you get nervous, it's the. Because you care. Absolutely. All the time. It's. It's a very vulnerable practice. Very vulnerable thing to do, and you can never predict it. Things happen all the time.

Melodie KG

No, that's.

Mattie Bynum

No, you cannot. No, you can't. What is your favorite spice to cook with?

River Coello

Mm. I don't cook, I will admit. Yeah. Oh, my

Melodie KG

God.

River Coello

Frowning down upon me but. Hmm. M. Oh, this is a. This is a heart one.

Mattie Bynum

Hmm.

River Coello

I don't cook, but I love, obviously, spices, period. I don't think I can pick up. I don't think I could pick a favorite. It's. Yeah.

Melodie KG

Again with the diploma snee.

Mattie Bynum

Yeah, right down the middle. I'm telling you. Yes.

Melodie KG

That's fine. That's fine. Do you prefer a good kiss or a good hug?

River Coello

Oh, see, I'm gonna say both. I keep doing this, but probably a good hug. I mean, yeah, of course there's magic and a really good kiss, but a good hug feels more accessible with so many more people. Too and can be really replenishing for sure. Yeah.

Mattie Bynum

This one though, you were in, um, a. You were in a good place because a kiss and a hug kind of goes together. So it's okay that you said both because I mean.

River Coello

Right, right, right.

Mattie Bynum

Who hugs and doesn't kiss or who kisses and doesn't hug at the same time? So yeah, that's another conversation for another talk show. Not this one, but anyways, moving on. Okay, so I would say my last question for me would be, uh, if you could go to one place in time and be able to live that experience, what century or what genre would you, or what place would you go to?

River Coello

I would probably go back home. Pre colonization for sure. I am in many ways trying to access that through the historical records that I'm like browsing through. And sometimes they come to me, these visions and dreams of what it could have been like. And I definitely, I think I would really love being back there and just seeing us thrive, uh, in a different way.

Melodie KG

Yeah, absolutely. That's beautiful. And river, what does power beyond pride mean to you?

River Coello

Power beyond pride is to me, I guess, the opportunity to.

Melodie KG

Hmm.

River Coello

Mhm. I guess I see pride centering certain voices. And so when I think beyond pride, I think of de. Centering those voices and really highlighting others too. But I guess it's also beyond this idea of just being proud, right, of our identity and really just safe and able to live our lives fully.

Mattie Bynum

Right.

River Coello

I've, uh, spoken about this before in my work. Visibility can only do so much. And in fact, many times visibility just puts us in danger, especially as trans people. Uh, and so while these expressions of pride are like incredible and necessary. Right. Because they do offer hope, we can't end there. Right. If we're going to make trans people visible, we also got to make sure they're safe. We also got to make sure that they're fed, that they have shelter, that they have family. And I mean that in every sense of the word, that they have security, financial and otherwise. That's to me, what pride doesn't fully capture. And so beyond pride means looking at everything that makes the things that I mentioned possible.

Melodie KG

Amazing. Absolutely amazing. And where can people follow you in your work, River?

River Coello

You can always go to my website, which is rivercoelho.com or you can follow me on social media. I am mostly active on Instagram, so that's again, rivercoelh. Uh, first and last. Or you can shoot me an email. Honestly, it would be treated like snail mail. Cause I move at my own pace. But you will get a response.

Melodie KG

Amazing. Well, thank you so much for being here. We're, we're out of time for this podcast but we would love to have you on again if you're willing and able and have time in between all your things. But we'd love to, to catch up with you sometime soon.

River Coello

That would be wonderful. Thank you both for having me. It's been a joy, most definitely.

Mattie Bynum

And yeah, I just wanna repeat the same thing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And for those who are listening, as you can see, she is very personable. So she said you can email her directly. It might be slow, but it's coming. Email and social media. All right, I do. I am Mattie Bynum, your co host for the afternoon, enjoying this queer journey with the beautiful river. You can contact me maddysimone737 on Instagram or Mattie Byn. I will admit I do not respond to everybody and it's no disrespect.

Melodie KG

And I'm your co host, Melodie KG. You can find me at substack onlodykg, uh.substack.com or on Instagram elodiekg M E L O D I E K G Not on Facebook. Don't email Melodie. Thank you.

Mattie Bynum

I love it. I love it. Power Beyond Crawling is a project from A Great Idea, a queer owned design and content agency. Learn more about them at A Great idea dot com.

Melodie KG

This episode is produced by Shane Lukas. Mattie Bynum is the project developer. Our editor is Jarrett Redding with support from Ian Wilson and both me and

Mattie Bynum

Melodie are part of the podcast host team here. It's a great group of people and if you get a chance to listen to us, just hear everybody's personality and their own views. And if you also have questions, please send them to powerbeyondpride.com so that we can answer them.

Melodie KG

Check out our new episodes each week and we look forward to weird change making with you next time. Thank you from all of us at Power Beyond Pride.

Transcribed automatically and lightly checked. If something is wrong — a name especially — tell us and we will fix it.