This is from a year ago. It was a talk with Helen, an MTA worker in NYC whose superiors at the time didn't think masks were necessary. A year ago this was INSANE to me. That anyone would deny anyone a MASK or act as though a MASK was controversial. And here we still are. Helen is an MTA Conductor for the NYC Subway system, an organization that is losing 3-people per day to Covid-19. She and her co-workers requested masks in January and were denied. 50 of her fellow MTA workers died before masks were distributed. We talked about fun things too, but I implore you to listen to Helen's story and remember that what you are seeing on the news is lacking in one thing: humanity. Support the show (http://patreon.com/lightersidepodcast)

A year has passed since the show became daily. Here is the first episode of that run. Both Stacy and Nicole are doing well a year later. Support the show (http://patreon.com/lightersidepodcast)

My stirring conversation with Shauntelle, who has gone on to become the first Black Trans Executive Director of a Recovery Home in Virginia.  She has also launched a podcast dealing with the topic of inclusion in recovery, which you can check out here The idea of Transgender Visibility Day is a good -intentioned one, but it's not even 10 am and I've seen more hateful comments about the Trans community on posts like this picture than anyone should ever have to read, let alone an actual member of the community.Our Trans brothers and sisters are some of the most marginalized members of society. They are murdered at an alarming rate, and their murders are truly under-reported. Their names are un-spoken.I don't know the answers. But I do know we have to listen and learn how to help. Long after these "days" stop filling our feeds.From the Human Rights Campaign: Sadly, 2021 has already seen at least 12 transgender or gender non-conforming people fatally shot or killed by other violent means. We say at least because too often these stories go unreported — or misreported. In previous years, the majority of these people were Black and Latinx transgender women.In 2020, HRC tracked a record number of violent fatal incidents against transgender and gender non-conforming people. A total of 44 fatalities were tracked by HRC, marking 2020 as the most violent year on record since HRC began tracking these crimes in 2013Support the show (http://patreon.com/lightersidepodcast)

In honor of Transgender Visibility Day,  a replay of my deep-dive into the life of AK, a non-binary force of nature operating out of Asbury Park, NJ. The idea of Transgender Visibility Day is a good -intentioned one, but it's not even 10 am and I've seen more hateful comments about the Trans community on posts like this picture than anyone should ever have to read, let alone an actual member of the community. Our Trans brothers and sisters are some of the most marginalized members of society. They are murdered at an alarming rate, and their murders are truly under-reported. Their names are un-spoken. I don't know the answers. But I do know we have to listen and learn how to help. Long after these "days" stop filling our feeds. From the Human Rights Campaign: Sadly, 2021 has already seen at least 12 transgender or gender non-conforming people fatally shot or killed by other violent means. We say at least because too often these stories go unreported — or misreported. In previous years, the majority of these people were Black and Latinx transgender women.In 2020, HRC tracked a record number of violent fatal incidents against transgender and gender non-conforming people. A total of 44 fatalities were tracked by HRC, marking 2020 as the most violent year on record since HRC began tracking these crimes in 2013.https://www.glaad.org/blog/tdor-memoriamSupport the show (http://patreon.com/lightersidepodcast)

Nate Holder and I had a long chat back in August. Since then he has gone and published ANOTHER book, which you can buy right here: https://www.thewhybooks.co.uk/shopNate is a sax player, a teacher, an advocate, a Brit, and a black man working to combat colonialism in music education. Loved every minute and glad to call Nate a pal. Support the show (http://patreon.com/lightersidepodcast)

Fredi was the original Joanne in Rent. She's also a powerful. brilliant, black woman, who was gracious enough to sit down with me and make me into a better interviewer. Check out all things Fredi here.Support the show (http://patreon.com/lightersidepodcast)

One of my favorite episodes. Aria and Catherine of Nutley for Black Lives, are two of the youngest, and also the most impressive, guests I've had on the show to date. These two young women are motivated and focused on getting their message out, and I am proud to give them whatever platform I can.Recently, they participated in a march in Nutley, NJ which drew headlines when a group of counter-protestors showed up to prevent the destruction of a statue of Columbus. The statue was never a part of anyone's plan, but that didn't stop them from shouting hate while Aria gave her speech. You can read about it, and even see video footage, here. Follow Nutley for Black Lives on Instagram and Facebook.Support the show (http://patreon.com/lightersidepodcast)

This summer, I spoke with a young man who made a difference in his traditionally very white/not so secretly racist town. Clarence Celius. Clarence Celius is a young, black man who grew up in Wall Township, NJ, an idyllic suburb where he describes the very "air quality" as being "filled with racism and discrimination". In light of recent events, and as an act of love for his younger twin sisters, Clarence took it upon himself to do something about it: He organized a Black Lives Matter March in Wall.Since then, Clarence has been thrust into activism at a breakneck pace. He is ready to give a part of himself over to the cause for racial equality. He bravely took me through the seemingly endless, exceedingly racist moments he has endured as black man growing up in suburbia. I applaud Clarence and implore you to follow him, as I know he will be making big waves in the future. Support the show (http://patreon.com/lightersidepodcast)

My friend Khy and I had a long chat. Khy Garner is tired. He was raised to be, and is, a gentleman to the core. But, he is tired. Of the loss. Of the ignorance. Of the systemic racism. Of learning that many people he thought were allies were anything but. And, he is tired of having to repeat himself, so I made sure to put a microphone in front of him and press record. Besides that, I got to catch up with someone I greatly admire and learn more about his past, present, and future. Khy is a true teacher, and gives all of himself to his craft. It was an honor and a pleasure to chat with Mista Khy.Support the show (http://patreon.com/lightersidepodcast)

Sara and I chatted a few months ago. She's done some great work since then. You should read it. Sara Benincasa wrote a book called "Agorafabulous", all about her adventures in mental health. As you would imagine, Sara has been training her whole life for a quarantine, and she is dominating by putting out stellar episodes of her podcast, "Well, This Isn't Normal" , which blends one-on-one interviews with relaxation techniques. Go listen to it. After you listen to this. She wrote more books too. It's all here. Support the show (http://patreon.com/lightersidepodcast)