Introducing: We Were Always Here

What makes you come home and feel safe, lean into that, and stay away from things that tend to hurt you, or discourage you, or make you feel less than, or less deserving.” – Kenny Ethan Jones We invited two best friends to sit in front of some cameras and have a chat. The result? A conversation full of laughter, joy, unreserved honesty and heartfelt reflection. From contemplating gender euphoria, to frank discussions about transphobia, and…gay dolphins. In this final episode of Anthems Talks, Kenny Ethan Jones and Charlie Craggs talk about what it means to live your best authentic life, and how the people around you play an important role in this. Kenny and Charlie’s word of the day is REALNESS. Watch along with this episode here  About our contributors: Charlie Craggs is an award-winning trans activist, author and actress dubbed ‘the voice of a community’ by Vogue, best known for her national campaign Nail Transphobia, her LAMBDA nominated book To My Trans Sisters and her groundbreaking BBC documentary Transitioning Teens. Kenny Ethan Jones is a writer, advocate and public speaker. He’s best known for making history by being the first trans man to front a period campaign. His advocacy is focused on all things trans but he focuses on; menstruation, body politics, mental health and intimacy. He engages in open and respectful conversations about all things trans in hopes of tackling misinformation and creating allies. His work has been spotlighted in the likes of Vogue, NBC news and more. You can find our list of resources here #AnthemsTalks is a collection of intimate conversations between pairs of trailblazers, activists and creatives in honour of Transgender Awareness Week. It was Executive Produced by Bea Duncan, with Production from Talia Augustidis and Lucy Carr, video production from Thunder Video, video editing by Eleanore Bamber and Sound Engineering by Ben Williams. The artwork is by Eleanore Bamber and Mars West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"As long as there's people there will be ideas, and there will be ways to express them" - Juliet Jacques Misinformation, erasure, and dangerous, transphobic rhetoric has noticeably intensified across mainstream media outlets in the past decade, with “debates'' around trans rights seeking to delegitimise and disempower the trans community. So how has this landscape changed, if at all, in recent history? How can cultural engagement combat this toxicity? Seasoned journalist Juliet Jacques and emerging writer Jackson King candidly consider the present and future state of the British media. Juliet and Jackson’s word of the day is CULTURE Watch along with this episode here  About our contributors: Jackson King is a queer Black trans man, journalist, writer, cultural worker and professional dominant (Mister Saul). He's the founding editor of Irresistible Damage (an online magazine for gay/bi trans mascs) and he also writes transmasc erotica on substack (TESTOSTEROTICA). Juliet Jacques is a writer and filmmaker based in London. She has published five books, including Trans: A Memoir (2015), Variations (2021) and Monaco (2023). Her fiction, journalism and essays have appeared in numerous publications, and her short films have screened across the world. She teaches at the Royal College of Art and co-hosts Novara FM. You can find our list of resources here #AnthemsTalks is a collection of intimate conversations between pairs of trailblazers, activists and creatives in honour of Transgender Awareness Week. It was Executive Produced by Bea Duncan, with Production from Talia Augustidis and Lucy Carr, video production from Thunder Video, video editing by Eleanore Bamber and Sound Engineering by Ben Williams. The artwork is by Eleanore Bamber and Mars West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Let me figure out what’s going to have the best impact whilst keeping me intact.” – Sabah Choudrey It’s important everybody has the opportunity to find communities wherein they feel free, loved, and accepted. What’s just as crucial is having access to spaces where people can seek out such communities. Two facilitators who have carved out inclusive, joyful spaces for trans people to connect are Sabah Choudrey and Xandice Armah. What is the meaning of community? How do you balance political activism and personal wellbeing? Listen now to hear their thoughts. Sabah and Xandice’s word of the day is BELONGING. Watch along with this episode here  About our contributors: Sabah Choudrey is a reluctant activist on most things trans, brown and hairy. Sabah co-founded Trans Pride Brighton in 2013 and made The Rainbow List in 2015, celebrating 101 of the most influential LGBT people in Britain. Sabah has built a presence across UK and Europe, speaking at TEDx Brixton 2015, ILGA Europe 2016, IDAHOT Brussels 2017, Malmö Pride 2017/18/20 about intersectionality, identity and inclusion. Proud trans youth worker since 2014 and psychotherapist in training. Currently managing the Youth Service at Gendered Intelligence, trustee for Inclusive Mosque Initiative, co-founder of Colours Youth Network supporting LGBTQ POC young people in UK. Sabah is the winner of the Gay Times Future Fighters Honour 2021 and the National Advisor for LGBT Health Award 2022. Based in West London, their passions also include fostering cats and talking to houseplants. Their latest book 'Supporting Trans People of Colour: How To Make Your Practice Inclusive' with Jessica Kingsley Publishers is out now. Xandice Armah (aka DJ Xzan) is a queer and trans Brighton-based DJ and co-founder of @galpalsclub, an LGBTQ+ club night centering queer women, trans and non-binary people. Xzan is also the founder of @transomeclub, which is a club night centering and celebrating trans people specifically, where all the money from the door goes towards gender affirming fundraisers. Xzan is the biggest proponent for playing what you love and playing it loud. This mantra comes to life in the form of their high energy, hyperactive sets, ricocheting between queer pop party anthems and deep-cut club trax and wildcards. Xzan is an open-format DJ in the fullest sense, they have no respect for the boundaries of gender and hold the same reverence for genre. You can follow them at @xzandj to find out where they're playing next. You can find our list of resources here #AnthemsTalks is a collection of intimate conversations between pairs of trailblazers, activists and creatives in honour of Transgender Awareness Week. It was Executive Produced by Bea Duncan, with Production from Talia Augustidis and Lucy Carr, video production from Thunder Video, video editing by Eleanore Bamber and Sound Engineering by Ben Williams. The artwork is by Eleanore Bamber and Mars West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“As if people who aren’t trans can’t take something from our experiences and our stories. Well, we’ve been watching cis people tell stories forever, and we still take stuff from stories because we’re all human beings.” - Mika Onyx Johnson The arts have always played a powerful role in influencing public perception. That’s why it matters what stories we decide to tell, and who we choose to tell these stories. Stars of stage and screen Felix Mufti and Mika Onyx Johnson share their thoughts about what genuine inclusivity looks like, as well as the value of funding regional theatre projects, and the joys of working on smaller-scale productions. Felix and Mika’s word of the day is OWNERSHIP Watch along with this episode here  About our contributors: Felix Mufti is a scouse activist, performer, writer and chaos-causer who loves to tell his unhinged life stories through rhythm n’ rap inspired spoken word, poetry, prose and music. With a passion for many forms of activism, due to his own lived experience, Felix’s heart lies deepest with his fellow Queer communities. He is an key organiser for Trans Pride Liverpool, Transgender Day of Remembrance and is the Trans Rep for Socialist LGBT+ Network. He is also a lecturer and workshop facilitator for companies, charities, community groups providing expert insight into how Queerness and allowing it flourish can positively influence industries, community and society. Felix co-founded Transcend Theatre where he writes and performs in authentic, usually unexplored stories of trans experience. His sell-out shows: ACE funded play and his debut, How to Kill a Rose was rated 4/5 stars by North West End and his following project Be Gay, Do Crime, blew the roof off the Shakespeare North Playhouse. Felix’s professional credits include: Sex Education (Netflix); When All Is Said (Fuel) which he also wrote and Transpose: Joy (Barbican). Mika Onyx Johnson is an actor, writer and performance artist from Nottingham. His debut show, Pink Lemonade, previewed at the Gate Theatre before premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2019, where it was included in The Stage's 18 best shows of the Fringe. In 2021 Pink Lemonade debuted at the Bush Theatre, to rave reviews. The show is currently being developed for TV with Balloon Entertainment. Theatre includes: As You Like It (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Seagull (Harold Pinter), Cyrano de Bergerac (Playhouse, Harold Pinter, Glasgow Theatre Royal and BAM – NYC), Pink Lemonade (Bush); Dear Elizabeth (Gate); Michael X (Almeida). Television includes: Newark, Newark; Screw; The Girlfriend Experience. Writing includes: What It Feels Like For A Girl (BBC); My White Best Friend (Bunker); Pink Lemonade (Bush); Queer Upstairs (Royal Court); I’m Here (Pentabus). You can find our list of resources here #AnthemsTalks is a collection of intimate conversations between pairs of trailblazers, activists and creatives in honour of Transgender Awareness Week. It was Executive Produced by Bea Duncan, with Production from Talia Augustidis and Lucy Carr, video production from Thunder Video, video editing by Eleanore Bamber and Sound Engineering by Ben Williams. The artwork is by Eleanore Bamber and Mars West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“I generally feel like everything is on the table for a writer, but the further away you move from your experience, the greater responsibility you have to do the work to close that gap.” – Nicola Dinan Juno Dawson and Nicola Dinan are two powerhouse authors who are well-versed in the art of creating empathetic and entertaining stories. In this episode, the writers provide thoughtful insight into their craftsmanship. They sat down to discuss the different ways genre can facilitate creative freedom, how they incorporate lived experiences into their writing, and what makes a character authentic. Juno and Nicola’s word of the day is RESPONSIBILITY. Watch along with this episode here  About our contributors: Nicola Dinan grew up in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur and now lives in London. She studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University before training as a lawyer. Bellies, her debut, was shortlisted for the Mo Siewcharran prize. Juno Dawson is a #1 Sunday Times best-selling novelist, screenwriter, journalist, and a columnist for Attitude Magazine. Juno’s books include the global bestsellers, This Book is Gay and Clean. She won the 2020 YA Book Prize for Meat Market. Her first adult fantasy trilogy Her Majesty’s Royal Coven launched in 2022, becoming an instant best-seller. You can find our list of resources here #AnthemsTalks is a collection of intimate conversations between pairs of trailblazers, activists and creatives in honour of Transgender Awareness Week. It was Executive Produced by Bea Duncan, with Production from Talia Augustidis and Lucy Carr, video production from Thunder Video, video editing by Eleanore Bamber and Sound Engineering by Ben Williams. The artwork is by Eleanore Bamber and Mars West.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Broccoli Productions is proud to present Anthems Talks. In honour of Transgender Awareness Week, we’re bringing you five episodes that capture intimate, one on one discussions between pairs of trailblazers, creatives and activists for a series of insightful conversations. We’re passing the mic to 10 influential voices to discuss their creative processes, what inspires them, and to reflect on the issues affecting their community. Dropping daily from Monday 13th November 2023  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chloe Filani is an Artist of Poetry, Performance, Black Feminism, Public Speaker and workshop facilitator. Her artistic practice/poetry works with her lived experience of being a black trans woman and the broader themes of identity of power structures and finding hope in the imagination and storytelling. Her work is an exploration of the metaphysical, the feeling and things. ‘Why black joy Why black sorrow why negro spirituals’. Chloe’s word of the day is CHANGE. CONNECT WITH CHLOE: I: @1.chloe.f #AnthemsPride 2023 is a collection of 7 original manifestos, speeches, stories, poems and rallying cries written and voiced by exceptional LGBTQIA+ contributors and allies. It was Executive Produced and sound designed by Bea Duncan, with producer Talia Augustidis. The production assistants were Lucy Carr and Cassandre Greenberg. The artwork is by Mars West and Eleanore Bamber. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tracey Ottomey is a Nashville native who is quickly becoming a Nashville staple in the drag scene. She initially began performing as a dare but soon found her calling in drag. She hosts a popular podcast called "Gay Space" and is a regular performer on the Big Drag Bus, as well as at Tribe and Play. When not performing, Tracy enjoys spending time with her dogs Bear and Waylon. Tracey’s word of the day is JOY. CONNECT WITH TRACEY: I: @traceyottomey T: @TraceyOttomey #AnthemsPride 2023 is a collection of 7 original manifestos, speeches, stories, poems and rallying cries written and voiced by exceptional LGBTQIA+ contributors and allies. It was Executive Produced and Sound Designed by Bea Duncan, with producer Talia Augustidis. The production assistants were Lucy Carr and Cassandre Greenberg. The artwork is by Mars West and Eleanore Bamber. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, Han is a multidisciplinary artist, musician, writer, and activist exploring analog and electronic audio, visual and literary mediums as a means to champion vulnerability, and authenticity and tell stories that they believe have the power to heal in their telling. As a certified NLP, Hypnosis, and Timeline Therapy practitioner, inner work, healing, and growth are at the core of what Han does; they are what emboldens them and allows them to be present and demand space for themselves and all oppressed, underrepresented and marginalised communities. They create for catharsis; internal and external, individual and collective. Han’s word of the day is ALIEN. #AnthemsPride 2023 is a collection of 7 original manifestos, speeches, stories, poems and rallying cries written and voiced by exceptional LGBTQIA+ contributors and allies. It was Executive Produced by Bea Duncan, with producer Talia Augustidis. This episode was sound designed by Ben Yellowitz. The production assistants were Lucy Carr and Cassandre Greenberg. The artwork is by Mars West and Eleanore Bamber. RESOURCES: Terrence Higgins Trust Extensive list of clinics and resources for trans and non-binary people; including sexual health clinics, charities and gender identity services across the UK Website: https://www.tht.org.uk/hiv-and-sexual-health/sexual-health/trans-people/resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

DJ Ritu is a London-based DJ and broadcaster. She presents and produces a radio programme called A World in London which champions under-represented music and artists from the entire globe. The show is 17 years young and it began at BBC London. It now airs at Resonance 104.4FM and on Mixcloud. Her DJ career began 37 years ago and she now manages two of the UK’s longest-running club nights. Ritu’s word of the day is CONNECTION. CONNECT WITH RITU: I: @djritu T: @djritu1 #AnthemsPride 2023 is a collection of 7 original manifestos, speeches, stories, poems and rallying cries written and voiced by exceptional LGBTQIA+ contributors and allies. It was Executive Produced by Bea Duncan, with producer Talia Augustidis. This episode was sound designed by Ben Yellowitz. TThe production assistants were Lucy Carr and Cassandre Greenberg. The artwork is by Mars West and Eleanore Bamber. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices