Take the Last Bite: Recent Episodes
Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
Take the Last Bite is a direct counter to the Midwest Nice mentality— highlighting advocacy & activism by queer/trans communities in the Midwest region. Each episode unearths the often disregarded and unacknowledged contributions of queer & trans folks to social change through interviews, casual conversations and reflections on Midwest queer time, space, and place.
For questions, comments and feedback: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
To support this podcast and the Institute, please visit sgdinstitute.org/giving
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality & Gender Diversity
Cover Art: Adrienne McCormick
We take a bite out of queer animation, TV shows and characters with resident nerds Andy Newhouse and Michelle Walters. We discuss the finale of The Owl House, D20’s Dungeons and Drag Queens, and which other queer streaming moments we’d smash or pass.
Additional Resources & References
Listen to “The Anatomy of a Liberatory Think Tank”
Learn more about the Writers Guild of America (WGA) Strike
Streaming & TV Show Recommendations and References
The Owl House
The Legend of Vox Machina
Avatar: The Last Airbender
The Legend of Korra
The Last Airbender directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Harley Quinn
D20 Dungeons and Drag Queens
Gravity Falls
The Ultimatum: Queer Love
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
We’re on TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
★ Support this podcast ★
We take a bite out of emergency-room and travel nursing with Britney Daniels, a Black, masculine-presenting, tattooed lesbian and author of “Journal of a Black Queer Nurse”. We chat about Britney’s observations in the emergency room, the derailment that led to her career, and her high hopes for improvements to healthcare systems.
Connect with Britney Daniels
- Website: https://blackqueernurse.co/
- Instagram: @BlackQueerNurse
Find Journal of a Black Queer Nurse through Common Notions
Additional Resources & References
- Omaha City Council unanimously approves renaming of street to commemorate activist and musical artist Dominique Morgan
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
We’re on TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
★ Support this podcast ★
We take a bite out of a Google Doodle commemorating Native American and lesbian activist Barbara May Cameron. We’re joined by queer Mexican and Chitimachan artist Sienna Gonzales, aka Somewhere in June, who had the opportunity to design the homepage artwork. We discuss the stepping stones into her artistic and queer identities, a bumpy road to a BFA from UCLA, and the process of creating a visual homage to a queer powerhouse.
Connect with Sienna Gonzales
- Website: https://www.somewhereinjune.com
- Instagram: @somewhere_in_june
- TikTok: @somewhere_in_june
Additional Resources & References
- Check out the Google Doodle of Barbara May Camerson designed by Sienna Gonzales, including a Q&A with the artist and a letter from Linda Boyd-Durkee, Barbara’s long-term partner
- Barbara May Cameron contributed an essay titled “Gee, You Don’t Seem Like an Indian from the Reservation” to the anthology This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org.
We’re on TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
★ Support this podcast ★
We take a bite out of Third Places, such as conferences, think tanks, liberation labs and other liberatory-conscious spaces that offer queer and trans community and connection outside of home, work and social media.
Host R.B. Brooks (they/them) reflects on sharing (third) space with a small but mighty group of LGBTQ+ higher education scholars and educators to examine how to make LGBTQ+ centers/spaces on college campuses anti-racist spaces and how the facilitation, environment, and pace of the think-tank offered a liberatory framework for new possibilities.
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Additional Resources & References
Learn more about Third Places:
- Michigan Minds episode – “Exploring How the Pandemic has Impacted Third Places”
- Ray Oldenburg, who coined the concept of Third Places, penned a newsletter to urban planners warning of “Our Vanishing ‘Third Places’”
- Allie Conti writes for The Atlanitic – “Do Yourself a Favor and Go Find a ‘Third Place’”
- AlibsWrites blogs about “The Death of Third Places and the Evolution of Communities” for Illumination on Medium
Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown published by AK Press
Resources for centering anti-racism work in LGBTQ+ spaces on college campuses:
- The American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Strategic Imperative for Racial Justice & Decolonization
- Consortium of Higher Education LGBTQ+ Resource Professionals Policy & Practice Recommendations
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For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
We’re on TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
★ Support this podcast ★
We take a large bite out of fat trans folk’s experiences & unearth some incredible lessons about desire, wellness, design, language, love and so much more.
In December of 2022, the Midwest Institute for Sexuality & Gender Diversity hosted the 6th annual Transgender Justice Teach-In and invited TK Morton, Dr. Jonathan Higgins, and Shane Smoore to participate in a discussion about the intersections of being fat, trans, and nonbinary. This episode is the recording from that live webinar.
Additional Resources & References
- Check out the YouTube recording & learn more about the panelists of the 6th annual Transgender Justice Teach-In
- Virginia Sole-Smith, host of the Burnt Toast podcast, chats with NPR about her new book Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture
- Imani Barbarin aka Crutches&Spice stitches a clip of Ali C. Lopez discussing the fetishization of Blackness, transness, disability and fatness on the Whatever podcast
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
We’re on TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
★ Support this podcast ★
We take a BIG bite out of BRUNCH with Catie Randazzo, a nonbinary chef from Columbus, Ohio who showed off their “filthy biscuits” as a cheftestant on HBOMax’s The Big Brunch—a wholesome cooking competition where the winner gets support with their big food dream. We chat about Catie’s vision for connecting trans youth to food & service industry skills, their queer & culinary come-ups in fast food kitchens, and some of their favorite moments on The Big Brunch.
Additional Resources & References
- Learn more about Catie’s food-dream-in-progress, Geneva House
- Safe Place for Youth – provides support and care to youth experiencing homelessness
- Listen to our episode Queers Who Make Beers from Season One to hear from Minneapolis-based microbrewers on the ways they want to create higher standards for workplace conditions & their unique pathways into the field.
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
We’re on TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
★ Support this podcast ★
We take a slow, careful bite out of processing the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs. Host R.B. Brooks (they/them) pieces together what we’ve learned in the aftermath of the shooting, tracks the circumstances and context that produced the tragic incident, and grapples with key questions about how we move forward.
Additional Resources & References
- MSNBC’s The ReidOut broadcast featuring Pulse survivor and Equality Florida Press Secretary Brandon Wolf
- “The Deadly Consequences of Hate” for Yes! by Sunnivie Brydum and Evette Dionne
- CNN coverage of Club Q shooting and community response
- Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum digital artifacts and description of Amendment 2
- Local news article about 18 hate groups in Colorado
- GLAAD social media post about gun violence statistics
- GLAAD infographic about anti-drag attacks and bills
- GLAAD social media post tracking various data points and incidents related to Club Q shooting
- Freedom for All Americans anti-trans legislation tracker
- Pulse Nightclub owner reacts to Club Q shooting
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
We’ve joined TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
★ Support this podcast ★
We take a bite out of trans inclusion and participation in sports with Schuyler Bailar, also known as PinkMantaray on social media. Schuyler was one of the keynote speakers at MBLGTACC 2022 and during our candid conversation he shared incredible wisdom about tackling anti-trans aggressors as well as sharing his story as a young swimmer coming into transness in college.
Additional Resources & References
- Alicia Kozlowski, an Ojibwe and Mexican-American nonbinary person, is one of many LGBTQ+ candidates becoming the “first” to serve in their elected role
- Lia Thomas becomes a national champion and first known trans athlete to win a Division 1 title
To learn more about the Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Asexual College conference, check out mblgtacc.org
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
We’ve joined TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
We're back for another serving of the 30th annual Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Asexual College Conference. This week, members of the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Diversity team come together exactly 24 hours after the closing remarks to honor the 30-year legacy of MBLGTACC, reminisce on the successes and learning curves of this year’s gathering, and think about what will manifest in the next 30 years.
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org.
We’ve joined TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org.
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
We revisit our 2022 Transgender Justice Teach-In where panelists Merrique Jenson, Codi Charles, Romeo Jackson and Bishop Howard discuss building liberated futures with queer and trans youth. In a moment where we’ve experienced an endless barrage of anti-trans attacks that deeply affect young trans people, the key messages from this conversation are just as true today as they were a year ago. What do we mean by “youth” and who is afforded the space to be young? What rights do children have and how do we exist in right relationship with trans youth? All these questions are covered on this episode of Take the Last Bite.
Find more details about the Transgender Justice Teach-In and where to connect with our panelists at https://sgdinstitute.org/programs/transgender-justice/2021-next-genderation
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
We’ve joined TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
We take a bite out of reproductive health, rights, and justice with two stellar advocates from Gender Justice and UnRestrict MN. Erin Maye Quade and Abena Abraham share their firsthand experiences on how the landscape has shifted since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and what cumulative actions we can all take to embrace this new, post-Roe terrain.
Additional Resources & References:
- Facebook Gave Police Data to Prosecute a Nebraska Teenager
- Law Professor Interrupts senator Josh Hawley’s Transphobic Line of Questioning
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
We’ve joined TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
We take a bite out of student conference planning with Lulu, Daleelah and Abby, three student leaders from Ohio who’ve dedicated ample time to planning the 30th annual Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Asexual College Conference.
We kick off season three talking about the process of coordinating the largest and oldest continuously-held conference for queer and trans+ college students and young adults, what attendees can expect at MBLGTACC 2022, and what the students have learned about themselves by coordinating on this project.
To register and learn more about the Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Asexual College conference, check out mblgtacc.org.
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org.
We’ve joined TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org.
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
We take a bite out of hip-hop and music making with Cuee, a Black trans artist based in Lawrence, Kansas. We chat about his shift from higher education into a full-time music career, how creating music can be a tool for exploring identity, and the invaluable role community plays in establishing art.
To check out Cuee’s work, head to cueemusic.com. You can also follow him on Instagram and TikTok or stream his content on Spotify and Apple Music.
Find out more about the Haus Of McCoy in Lawrence, Kansas.
The copyright for all music included in today’s episode is held by Cuee and included with permission from the owner.
Check out all episodes of Take the Last Bite wherever you listen to podcasts and stay tuned this summer for bonus episodes.
We take a bite out of progressive voter guides with Stephanie Skora, author of the "Girl, I Guess Progressive Voter Guide" that provides public education to voters in Illinois’s Cook County. We chat about the hesitancy of leftists/progressives/radicals to participate in electoral politics, how voter guides can be used as an accountability tool for politicians, and how voting is one tool of many in our social change toolbox.
Some additional resources from this episode:
- One LGBTQ+ Indigenous TikTok user’s response to PrideOut video breaking down the misuse of the MMIW hand symbol by primarily white TikTok content creators
- Starting learning more about the movement around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Two Spirit people
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality & Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
We take (another) bite out of the trans policy issues surrounding anti-trans legislation targeting participation in sports. We’ve pulled the audio from our queer policy event from July 2021 for this special episode as we continue to monitor the impact of these policies in current time. This discussion between Katie Barnes, espn feature writer; Chris Mosier, Olympic Trials athlete and founder of TransAthlete.com; and Naomi Goldberg, deputy director and LGBTQ program director at the Movement Advancement Project makes important connections between the larger movement for trans justice and what’s happening in the world of professional, collegiate and K-12 sports.
To learn more about the Institute’s Queer Policy Series, and to watch a recording of last year’s webinar, check out https://sgdinstitute.org/programs/queer-policy
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality & Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
We take a bite out of queer and trans affirming healthcare with Asher Wickell (they/he) a family & marriage therapist based in Wichita, KS. We get philosophical in our exploration of what healing looks like in the face of perpetual harm, how the pandemic has unearthed realizations about the flaws in our healthcare systems, and what a future of affirming care could look like when the current system becomes obsolete.
Additional resources & references from this episode:
- The Care We Dream Of by Zena Sharman– through a series of essays this book offers possibilities for more liberatory and transformative approaches to LGBTQ+ health and healing.
- The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism– journalist and author Naomi Klein investigates how corporate, governmental and private interests are moved forward in the aftermath of major disasters.
- Dean Spade on the Promise of Mutual Aid– an interview with Dean Spade, author of Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During this Crisis (And the Next)
- “Can therapy solve racism?” – a recent episode on the podcast Code Switch exploring if therapy is a useful tool for addressing the impacts of anti-Blackness.
- The Nonlinearity of Healing with Spenta Kandawalla– a recent episode of the Emergent Strategy podcast about centering our material well-being in movement work
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org
To support this podcast and the Institute, visit sgdinstitute.org/giving
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality & Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
We take a bite out of local politics with Oprah Jrenal and Azrin Awal, who both ran for city council positions in their respective municipalities in Fall 2021. We chat about their motivations to run, how community played a huge role in their campaigns, and how the complexity of local politics plays into creating lasting change.
We take a bite out of ALL things gender in this roundtable discussion with four members of the Midwest Institute for Sexuality & Gender Diversity team. We share our earliest memories of questioning gender, overcoming feeling like trans imposters, and what our hopes are for upcoming generations of trans, nonbinary and intersex youth.
Resources mentioned in this episode’s intro:
- National Center for Trans Equality’s blog post about federal administration policy changes supporting trans communities including TSA, Social Security and passports
- News article about Alabama’s recently passed ban on gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth
- Freedom for All Americans’ legislative tracker monitoring anti-trans policies proposed across the country
Check out the full video from our 2021 Transgender Justice Teach-In titled “The Next Genderation: Building Liberated Futures with Queer and Trans Youth” where educators, organizers and change-makers working directly with queer and trans youth share insight for aligning with youth needs.
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality & Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
What does justice smell like? What does a liberated future taste like? Black trans queer artist, scholar, educator, and dreamer TK Morton (ze/zir) has a vision all mapped out and at the center of it all is joy. We chat about seeking daily joy, the importance of seeing trans folks with different body types, and visualizing trans joy using all the senses.
To learn more about TK’s work around trans joy, check out https://www.tkmorton.com/ or find zir on TikTok and Instagram
Content creators mentioned in this episode:
- Mercury Stardust aka Trans Handy Ma’am
- August aka With Love, August
Resources and articles about Lia Thomas and trans athletes, referenced in this episode’s intro:
- “Swimmer Lia Thomas becomes first known trans athlete to win Div1 national championship” ESPN article
- “The Debate Over Swimmer Lia Thomas at the NCAA Championships” ESPN Daily podcast episode
- TransAthlete.com: A resource and policy hub created by trans athlete Chris Mosier to create greater inclusion in athletics
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
Our guest’s work is centered around getting people to change their mind. Coach Bastian is a writer, speaker, and personal development coach supporting queer and trans entrepreneurs on well-being and mindset. We chat about building queer capital, embracing failure as a learning opportunity, and how to stay true to your vision without worrying about pleasing everybody else.
To learn more about Coach Bastian’s personal development coaching, check out https://www.coachbastian.co/ or follow him on Instagram
For resources and information about the anti-trans bills references in this episode’s intro:
- Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation Tracker
- Iowa Bill Banning Trans Girls
- “Don’t Say Gay” bill progresses in Florida
- Texas Governor and Attorney General claim gender affirming healthcare for minors is “child abuse”
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality & Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
We take a bite of queer-affirming therapy with Colton Schoenike (they/them,), M.S., MFT-IT, a training marriage and family therapist based in Menominee, Wisconsin.
We talk about protips for queer and trans folks seeking affirming therapists, the continued gatekeeping of trans folks seeking biomedical transitions, and what to do when you just don't vibe with your therapist and how amazing it is when you do.
More resources related to queer affirming therapy are available on our website.
If you or someone you know needs help through a crisis or navigating their questions about being trans, contact the Trans Lifeline Hotline at US (877) 565-88760 or CA (877) 330-6366
For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality & Gender Diversity
Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
TA-DA! We're putting a bow on our first season as host R.B. Brooks (they/them) reflects on the conversations from this season. We welcome your feedback and ideas for season two at lastbite@sgdinstitute.org.
In 2021, what has brought you the most joy or taught you the greatest lessons? In part two of this "small bites" series, we reflect on these questions and more as we discuss ferrets (1:27), farming (20:13), and fat kid food (40:46). Enjoy these bite sized bits of pet shaming, futurity planning, and recipe recommendations.
In 2021, what has brought you the most joy or taught you the greatest lessons? In part one of this "small bites" series, we reflect on these questions and more as we discuss quirky, queer animated characters (2:46), collective grief and learning through loss (23:08), and building a relationship with wilderness in the gay outdoors (47:18). Be sure to come back for another serving of small bites on January 4.
Prepare your diaphragm for some deep belly laughs! Comedian and intersectional accessibility educator Hayden Kristal talks about the craft of writing a good joke, the need for comedy to "punch up" to prevent harm against marginalized communities, and how social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have become key tools for content creators to reach wider audiences during the pandemic.
We’re taking a little break, but not before we issue a challenge to all you home cooks out there to share your last bite images and fat kid feasts with us by tagging @sgdinstitute on social media or emailing us at lastbite@sgdinstitute.org.
The 4th annual Transgender Justice Teach-in brought together T/GQ/Enby folks doing abolition work and organizing around/against state-sanctioned violence. In this week's episode, we revisit a conversation highlighting efforts in the Midwest and emphasize the connections between both queer/trans justice and abolitionist organizing.
Today’s tap list includes: a savory blend of breaking gendered norms in customer service positions and mobilizing service workers to demand affirming working environments. We’re joined by three folks in the craft brewing industry who share how they ventured into the world of beer and some of the rad projects they’re working on to improve labor conditions for marginalized people.
For questions, comments and feedback: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org
Ahh yes, the three genders: cities, college towns, and the farm. We share our personal experiences in rural and urban spaces, the disparate resource allocations to rural areas, and how geography impacts building queer community.
Why did we receive messaging that "queer death" happens at age 30? Join us as we explore the sacredness of aging, delayed adolescence, and caring for our queer elders.
It's not just holding the door for strangers and long goodbyes. What is "Midwest nice" and why does it cause barriers to communication, boundaries, and relationships?
What is "the last bite"? Why is it the stuff of Midwest social nightmares? And how is it actually a barrier to organizing? Join us as we serve it and flip this whole buffet table. Meet some of our humans and get a preview of what's on our radar.
Introducing Take the Last Bite, a new podcast from the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity. Season one launches August 31, 2021 with new episodes bi-weekly. In the meantime, learn more about our intentions for this podcast and listen to a sneak peak of episode one.