The Pieces with Bimini

Demitri Rodriguez is a trans activist, content creator and one of the first openly trans men to speak publicly about surviving conversion therapy without anonymity.From his background in the prison service to becoming a vocal presence in spaces that typically oppose trans rights, Demitri has built a career on visibility, unflinching honesty and the refusal to be palatable for mainstream consumption.On this episode of The Pieces, Bimini and Demitri dive into the formative moment that shaped everything while working in the prison service, his ground-breaking appearance on BBC Three as the first openly trans man on a reality TV show mid-transition, the vulnerability of having to come out repeatedly on camera, and the systemic erasure of trans content from the BBC.Demitri shares his harrowing experience as a conversion therapy survivor at 15, his decision to speak publicly without anonymity to push for a ban, and the lack of community support he received afterward - a pattern he now sees repeating with other traumatized trans people.They also explore the complications of passing privilege, a strip search incident by police and why Demitri chooses to enter right-wing spaces despite criticism.Don't forget to subscribe and don't miss new episodes of The Pieces every Tuesday!Follow The Pieces with BiminiInstagram: @thepiecespodTikTok: @thepiecespodYouTube: @thepiecespodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lucy May Dawson is a disability advocate and survivor whose story of resilience against medical negligence has become a rallying cry for disabled women everywhere.At 20, she contracted the anti-NMDA receptor autoimmune encephalitis - a treatable brain disease - but was misdiagnosed as having a psychiatric breakdown and sectioned involuntarily in a psychiatric ward for three months. During that hospitalisation, hospital negligence resulted in a third-degree burn to her sciatic nerve from an uncaged radiator pipe, permanently paralyzing her lower left leg.What followed was a devastating decade of medical gaslighting, financial abandonment by the welfare system, and the journey to rebuild an entire life from scratch. Today, Lucy uses her platform to expose medical misogyny, celebrate disabled sexuality, and prove that a life that’s changed doesn’t have to mean a life that’s over.On this episode of The Pieces, Bimini and Lucy dive into the formative moment that changed everything and the shocking reality that medical conditions are routinely misdiagnosed as hysteria in young women.They explore the systemic failures that left Lucy permanently disabled, and the turning point when she realized she had a voice to use for those who lost theirs.The conversation tackles medical misogyny head-on, exploring how symptoms are dismissed as a mental health crisis when a young man with identical symptoms would likely receive immediate testing. Lucy also shares the vulnerability of being fetishized as a disabled woman, her period on OnlyFans as a survival mechanism when the NHS abandoned her, and how she’s reclaimed her body and sexuality on her own terms. Don't forget to subscribe and don't miss new episodes of The Pieces every Tuesday!Follow The Pieces with BiminiListen Now on Global PlayerInstagram: @thepiecespodTikTok: @thepiecespodYouTube: @thepiecespodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Parson James is a singer-songwriter from South Carolina who has become one of music’s most distinctive and authentic voices.Born Ashton Parson in a town of 5,000 people, he created an iconic visual identity — a high fashion cowboy priest aesthetic complete with cross earrings and boots — that reflects his unique blend of Southern roots, queer spirituality and artistic rebellion. His music has passed over a billion streams (including a collaboration with the producer Kygo) and he has a new single "Love Right Here" with Emeli Sande, out now.On this episode of The Pieces, Bimini and Parson James dive into the formative moment that shaped his entire life and how it gave him a feeling of "rightness" that has guided him ever since.They discuss growing up in a hostile environment where Parson learned to mould himself to make everyone around him feel safe, and the journey of finally protecting himself by moving to New York at 17.Parson also shares the vulnerability of coming out to his mom, the magic of working underage at burlesque venues, meeting Lady Gaga and the miraculous chain of events that followed - including stories from his time on American Idol and his performance at the Nobel Peace Prize concert.Don't forget to subscribe and don't miss new episodes of The Pieces every Tuesday!Follow The Pieces with BiminiListen Now on Global PlayerInstagram: @thepiecespodTikTok: @thepiecespodYouTube: @thepiecespodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hannah Reilly is an Australian writer, director, performer and creative force who has built a career on unflinching storytelling and the transformative power of art.From her early work in comedy to writing and performing her own original theatrical work, Hannah has carved out a space where she can explore the messy, uncomfortable, deeply human truths that make us who we are.Her critically acclaimed play ROLEPLAY marks a bold shift from comedy into drama, proving that Hannah is unafraid to make an audience sit in uncomfortable silence if that's what the story demands.On this episode of The Pieces, Bimini and Hannah dive into the formative moment that sparked everything and made her want to capture the kind of storytelling that transforms you.They discuss the journey from performing comedy to writing drama, the challenge of making an audience uncomfortable, and why she had to learn that silence isn't failure, it's the correct response to tragedy.The conversation touches on keeping parts of your life private in an age of constant oversharing, how the permanence of the internet holds people accountable for opinions they had ten years ago, and the double standard of cancel culture when world leaders get away with everything.Hannah also shares the brutal honesty of making ROLEPLAY and creating a character (Danny) who desperately seeks power and attention because she's really looking for love.Don't forget to subscribe and don't miss new episodes of The Pieces every Tuesday!Follow The Pieces with BiminiListen Now on Global PlayerInstagram: @thepiecespodTikTok: @thepiecespodYouTube: @thepiecespodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Peter Caulfield is an actor, singer and passionate activist who has become the leading voice fighting for legal ownership of our own voices.Best known for his work with Russell T Davies on the ground-breaking series Queer as Folk, Cucumber and Tiptoe, Peter uses his platform to speak truth to power about the issues that matter most — from Palestinian solidarity to the unchecked dangers of artificial intelligence.Beyond the screen, Peter is the face of "Save Our Voices Now", a campaign demanding statutory rights for every UK citizen to have legal ownership over their own voice before AI cloning decimates careers, steals identities, and fundamentally erases what makes us human.On this episode of The Pieces, Bimini and Peter dive into the impact of Russell T Davies' storytelling, Peter's continuous campaigning and how a single word "Now" can create real change.They also talk about Peter's urgent new mission: stopping AI voice cloning before it's too late. They unpack the terrifying reality that voices are data being harvested from social media, algorithms are being piloted in warfare, and that tech billionaires are openly admitting AI will "probably destroy the planet, but create amazing software" in the meantime.Peter tackles surveillance capitalism, the humanisation of AI as dangerously misleading, and why this isn't just an actor's issue - it affects every teenager on TikTok and Snapchat who are unknowingly giving their voice away.Don't forget to subscribe and don't miss new episodes of The Pieces every Tuesday!Follow The Pieces with BiminiListen Now on Global PlayerInstagram: @thepiecespodTikTok: @thepiecespodYouTube: @thepiecespodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nicky Spence is a Scottish tenor, opera singer and performer who has brought accessibility, authenticity and pure joy to one of the world's most elite art forms.From performing at the BBC Proms to international opera houses, Nicky has built a career on refusing to be confined by traditional operatic moulds. As a vocal athlete who can fill ginormous spaces without a microphone and a gay Scottish man who has turned his "unconventional" appearance into his greatest asset, Nicky represents a revolution in how we think about who gets to be an opera singer.On this episode of The Pieces, Bimini and Nicky dive into the formative moment that changed everything. They discuss his training for ten years - only to discover that he had to become the person he actually was, instead of who he had been told to be, to reach new career heights.The conversation touches on opera as drag - the wigs, costumes, makeup and bold presentation - and why he gets to play the really interesting, repugnant characters rather than sappy Prince's because he doesn't fit the traditional mould.Nicky passionately advocates for funding the arts, accessibility in opera, and why creating barriers to opportunity means missing undiscovered incredible gifts. They also discuss the stark difference between France's annual funding for opera versus the UK's constant defunding, and why art should be a human experience of communion, not an exclusive elite event.Don't forget to subscribe and don't miss new episodes of The Pieces every Tuesday!Follow The Pieces with BiminiListen Now on Global PlayerInstagram: @thepiecespodTikTok: @thepiecespodYouTube: @thepiecespodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ebs Burnough is best known the former White House Senior Advisor to First Lady Michelle Obama - but, having achieved so much, his career defies categorisation.He's a filmmaker, writer, producer and communications executive with nearly two decades of leadership in politics and public policy. From working at the White House with President and Mrs. Obama, to serving as Chair of Sundance Film Festival, and directing projects that celebrate queer cultural icons like Dusty Springfield, Ebs has refused the false choice between academia and creativity.A Black gay man with relentless drive and a gift for seeing the full dimensions of any challenge, Ebs approaches every mountain as an opportunity to grow, learn and create lasting impact.On this episode of The Pieces, Bimini and Ebs dive into the formative moment that shaped his entire worldview, turning trauma into his greatest teacher and his commitment to never letting fear stop him from occupying space.The conversation touches on being raised with the understanding that "much has been given to you, so how do you give back?", the confidence to never experience imposter syndrome while still being absolutely terrified, and the refusal to be confined to a single career path.They also discuss his current work directing the Dusty Springfield film, launching Tea and Vodka podcast, and his upcoming projects at Sundance.Don't forget to subscribe and don't miss new episodes of The Pieces every Tuesday!Follow The Pieces with BiminiListen Now on Global PlayerInstagram: @thepiecespodTikTok: @thepiecespodYouTube: @thepiecespodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You might know Ella Morgan from her TV work (as the first transgender bride on Married At First Sight, or from Celebs Go Dating), her work as a model or as a campaigner.A trailblazer in her own right, Ella has built a career on visibility, authenticity and unflinching honesty about what it means to be trans and queer in the public eye. Beyond the glamour and the accolades, Ella is a fierce advocate for trans rights and community liberation: someone who refuses to debate her existence, refuses to dim her light, and refuses to accept a world that demands she apologize for taking up space.On this episode of The Pieces, Bimini and Ella dive into the vulnerable reality of navigating online hate while maintaining mental health.They discuss how trolls feel manageable when you're in a good place mentally, but one small comment can devastate you when you're struggling. The conversation tackles the toxic discourse around trans rights, the algorithm that feeds hate, and why Ella will never debate her experience with people who don't understand what it's like to be trans.Ella talks about her dad's role in keeping her grounded and finding power not just in the people around her, but in herself.Follow The Pieces with BiminiListen Now on Global PlayerInstagram: @thepiecespodTikTok: @thepiecespodYouTube: @thepiecespodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jocelyn Si is the singer of Walt Disco, a Scottish band making bold, unapologetic pop music grounded in authenticity and joy. With her bandmates, Jocelyn has crafted an album that explores the messy, beautiful experience of becoming yourself.Beyond her music, Jocelyn is a thoughtful artist who refuses to be reduced to a single narrative: she's a musician first, a trans woman second, and someone determined to show the world that transition is filled with euphoria, not just struggle.On this episode of The Pieces, Bimini and Jocelyn dive into the formative moment that shaped her entire life, finally living authentically after years of hiding and the journey through her transition.The conversation tackles the narrative gap: why media only covers trans stories through trauma and suffering when the lived reality is often euphoria and affirmation. They touch on being a musician who happens to be trans rather than a trans musician defined only by her identity and how transitioning in her late 20s feels like starting fresh.Jocelyn also shares the unexpected gift of making friends in her late 20s, navigating major life phases at any age and where she finds her power...Don't forget to subscribe and don't miss new episodes of The Pieces every Tuesday!Follow The Pieces with BiminiListen Now on Global PlayerInstagram: @thepiecespodTikTok: @thepiecespodYouTube: @thepiecespodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

He's the visionary behind some of the UK's most iconic queer spaces, the co-founder of Sink The Pink (the birthplace of Bimini) and the architect of Mighty Hoopla. Glyn Fussell joins Bimini for this episode of The Pieces.More than a festival organiser, Glynn is a cultural curator who has built a career on creating places where queer people can celebrate, belong and be unapologetically themselves.Beyond the dancefloors and glitter, Glyn is also executive producer of the theatrical adaptation of It's A Sin, working alongside Russell T Davies and the Pet Shop Boys, and founder of the Pink Noise Foundation - an organisation dedicated to supporting grassroots Pride events across the UK that are under threat from right-wing political pressure.On this episode of The Pieces, recorded live at Soho House, Bimini and Glyn dive into the importance of Eurovision on Glyn's queer awakening, why pop culture became pure escapism for queer people forced to wait in the wings and how that obsession with spectacle shaped everything he's built.The conversation touches on the disappearing landscape of grassroots Pride events, why the Pink Noise Foundation exists and they explore his executive producer work on It's a Sin, where theatre becomes a vehicle for queer history and education.Don't forget to subscribe and don't miss new episodes of The Pieces every Tuesday!Follow The Pieces with BiminiListen Now on Global PlayerInstagram: @thepiecespodTikTok: @thepiecespodYouTube: @thepiecespodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.