109: Fèini Yĭn
We Want the Airwaves
At the intersection of political art and environmental science, queer nonbinary Chinese-American Fèini Yĭn is a celestial presence in a static world. Their work ranges from enthralling pieces in The New York Times, to art processions designed to shake up science communities, to short stop-motion films about the natural world — a praxis that challenges the status quo and engages the people, cuts out the traumatic edges of displacement and reanimates them for a new world. Nia chatted with Fèini about the mash-up of art, activism and the radical implications of an expansive view of the...
info_outline
108: Anna Vo
We Want the Airwaves
To say that Vo, a nonbinary trans masc Vietnamese immigant, is an artist is to dance to the arrhythmic tune of understatement: they are a traveler, social worker, and wizened anarchist soul who not only dabbles in various artistic media, but transforms each discipline they encounter. Their galvanizing work in the zine underground with the international BIPOC [Black/Indigenous/People of Color] zine "Fix My Head" and the political perzine "The Swan, the Vulture," in comics, contemporary visual art, experimental fabric manipulation, and their ever-evolving musical explorations with textural...
info_outline
107: Ignacio Rivera
We Want the Airwaves
Black Boricua Taíno queer and trans artist Ignacio Rivera is a poet, performer and activist working to end child sexual abuse, or CSA. They are also a grandparent. In this interview, featuring their baby grandson, Ignacio discusses growing up in Brooklyn, becoming politicized in Massachusetts, and the connections between sexual liberation and ending CSA. Read the transcript at scribd.com/artactivistnia. Support the podcast at patreon.com/artactivistnia.
info_outline
106: Suzy X
We Want the Airwaves
Bisexual Latina writer, comics artist and musician Suzy X has gone from making zines to drawing comics for to writing for (RIP) to being the Latin music editor at in the short time (approx. 7 years) I've known her, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this success. In this interview we discuss her zines and , illustrating her first graphic novel, and the challenges of working in media as a young woman of color. Photo by Ebru Yildiz. Read the transcript at . Support the podcast at .
info_outline
105: Rahul Mehta
We Want the Airwaves
Queer Indian-American author discusses his award-winning collection of short stories, Quarantine; growing up Asian in Appalachia; and how LGBTQ audiences in India have received his work. We also try to sort out why he's so drawn to unlikeable protagonists. Photo by Matthew Hamilton. Read the transcript at . Support the podcast at .
info_outline
104: Alex Smith
We Want the Airwaves
Alex Smith is a queer, Black sci-fi writer, musician and visual artist. In this interview, we discuss his collection of short stories, , as well as his many influences, ranging from Public Enemy to Nirvana and Marvel Comics to the Black Panther Party. Photo by Shane Jenkins. Read the transcript at . Support the podcast at .
info_outline
103: BL Shirelle
We Want the Airwaves
BL Shirelle of Die Jim Crow Records discusses the challenges of recording and releasing music by incarcerated artists. She also shares stories of dealing drugs, doing time and raising kids with her wife. (Photo by Verse.) Support the podcast at . Transcript coming soon.
info_outline
102: Oliver Spencer / St. Sol
We Want the Airwaves
Black queer Philadelphia-based musician and visual artist (known musically as ) discusses growing up between North Carolina and Okinawa, how their dad's military service impacted their life, and finding the space to be weird in (an arts) high school. We also talk about the whiteness of art school(s), not letting perfectionism hold you back, and using music to assert your humanity. Photo by Georgia Wescott. Read the transcript at . Support the podcast at .
info_outline
101: Joyce Hatton
We Want the Airwaves
Black asexual zinester and cartoonist discusses their comic Locks and their zines Trust the Knife and Grief. Joyce is a survivor of breast cancer, homelessness, and a suicide attempt, so this episode gets pretty heavy. We also talk about the concept of "trauma porn" (which is not actual porn), when illustrations come easier than words, and their love of birds. Here is a link to the I reference in this episode. Buy Joyce's work . You can support the podcast at . Transcript coming soon.
info_outline
August 2019 announcements
We Want the Airwaves
1.) I'm taking a break from the podcast. I'll be back in October. 2.) I'm moving to Philly. Please hit my up if you have leads on any jobs! 3.) The for Queer & Trans Artists of Color, Volume 3 is October 19th at East Bay Booksellers in Oakland, featuring , and . PLEASE so we can hire ASL interpreters for the event. Thank you! <3 <3 <3 Launch party GoFundMe:
info_outlineBisexual Latina writer, comics artist and musician Suzy X has gone from making zines to drawing comics for Rookie Mag to writing for MTV Iggy (RIP) to being the Latin music editor at Rolling Stone in the short time (approx. 7 years) I've known her, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this success. In this interview we discuss her zines Malcriada and Chronicles of an 8th Grade Mallgoth, illustrating her first graphic novel, and the challenges of working in media as a young woman of color. Photo by Ebru Yildiz.
Read the transcript at scribd.com/artactivistnia.
Support the podcast at patreon.com/artactivistnia.