On this episode, Caroline welcomes back Della Licious, Jordan Braxton, and Kristen Browde as they gather for a vibrant, honest, and deeply human roundtable on drag, transition, and advocacy. The conversation flows from laughter and casual catching up into a powerful exploration of identity, visibility, and the ongoing challenges facing LGBTQ+ communities—especially in the face of anti-drag and anti-trans legislation. Della shares stories from her 23-year journey in drag and HIV education, while Jordan reflects on drag as an early pathway to self-discovery and transition. Kristen adds insight from her dual life as a journalist and advocate, grounding the conversation in lived experience and legal perspective.

Together, the group addresses the HIV epidemic with raw vulnerability and urgency, confronting stigma head-on and advocating for better access to healthcare, testing, and education—particularly in rural and underserved communities. From the Ryan White Program to the realities of aging with HIV, they highlight the continued need for policy, compassion, and public funding. They also reflect on the strength and resilience of the transgender and drag communities, emphasizing the power of joy, community, and collective resistance in the face of ongoing marginalization.

They remind listeners that drag is more than a performance—it’s a culture of survival, expression, and truth-telling. And in the face of fear and legislation, their message is clear: keep showing up, keep living fully, and don’t let anyone steal your joy.

“Della Licious is the heartbeat of Fort Wayne’s queer nightlife and a radiant symbol of service, performance, and community care. A 20-year drag veteran, Della hosts dazzling shows at After Dark and produces monthly fundraisers for the Positive Resource Connection. With wit, rhinestone flair, and devotion to HIV/AIDS education, she uplifts queer visibility in small-town America—proving that resistance can shimmer, strut, and serve pie with a side of advocacy.

Jordan Braxton is a St. Louis icon and longtime activist whose work bridges performance and policy. Known as Dieta Pepsi, she merges glamour with grassroots leadership, serving as Director of Diversity for Pride St. Louis and Vice President of St. Louis Black Pride. Her HIV/AIDS prevention work with Vivent Health and founding of the Transgender Memorial Garden reflect her lifelong commitment to honoring trans lives and building lasting change.

Kristen Browde is a journalist-turned-advocate known for her legal and political work on behalf of the LGBTQIA+ community. With years at CNN and CBS News, she now serves as president of the Florida Democratic Party LGBTQ+ Caucus and vice president of the National Stonewall Democrats. Her career is marked by bold visibility and unwavering dedication to justice across media, law, and policy.”

**

“Make it real to me” written by Athena Promachus, covered by Boy Bowser

The Trans Narrative was created, and produced by Caroline Penny, powered by Spotify for podcasters

If you’d like to reach out, or be apart of the show contact us at

“transnarrativepodcast@gmail.com”

Support and donations can be made to cash app tag $gottabesomthinmore

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“This podcast ethically uses Chat GPT/Zoom AI to generate episode summaries, ensuring accuracy while maintaining the integrity and intent of our guests’ stories.”

Thank you for your support

Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

S.A.F.E. (Self Abuse Finally Ends) 1-800-DONT-CUT

American Foundation for low vision 212-502-7633.

Trevor Hotline (Suicide) 1-866-4-U-TREVOR

Family Violence Prevention Center 1-800-313-1310

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE

Drug Abuse National Helpline 1-800-662-4357

National Human Service Call Center 2-1-1

On this episode, Caroline, Moth Moth Moth, and returning guest co-host—singer of our theme song—Boy Bowser sit down with Aj Evergreen, original co-host of The Trans Narrative Podcast, making her first appearance as a guest. Together, they revisit Aj’s early years growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, exploring how her insular religious upbringing shaped her understanding of queerness, language, and identity. They delve into the role of education and community in Aj’s journey of self-discovery, as well as how spiritual control and censorship influence the formation of trans and queer lives.

The group takes a critical lens to systems of power—capitalism, electoral politics, and carceral logic—examining how these structures constrain liberation. Aj offers a grounded critique of the two-party system, emphasizing the importance of local voting while acknowledging its limits. They discuss small acts of resistance—ethical consumption, unionizing, and community care—as ways to chip at capitalist dominance. They also highlight the need for solidarity among immigrants, non-citizens, and marginalized people in reclaiming agency.

In a powerful final act, the group envisions transformation rooted in care over punishment. Through laughter, vulnerability, and fierce love, this episode is a bold reminder of what becomes possible when we center authenticity, justice, and collective care.

“Aj Evergreen is a trans woman, ex-Jehovah’s Witness, Leftist, civil rights activist, volunteer with LGBTQ+ community organizations, and unapologetic nerd. She holds a degree in Sociology with an emphasis on Political Science and is passionate about understanding the structures that shape our lives. Raised in an insular, fundamentalist environment where conformity was demanded and queer identities were condemned, Aj’s journey has been one of deep questioning, painful growth, and courageous self-acceptance. After leaving the faith in her early twenties and beginning her transition at 25, she has fought to reclaim her sense of self, choosing to believe in a future where happiness and fulfillment are possible for everyone — not just the chosen few.

Her story reminds us that healing is not about erasing the past, but about living fully and authentically despite it. Through her resilience, advocacy, and fierce dedication to justice, Aj offers a powerful testament to the possibility of building a life rooted in truth, compassion, and hope — even when the foundation you were given was built to collapse.

• Buy nothing groups:

https://buynothingproject.org/

• American Community Gardening Association:

Tenants unions: https://abolitionnotes.org/a-quick-

guide-to-all-tenants-unions-in-the-us

National immigration law center:

https://www.nilc.org/resources/know-your-rights-what-to-do-if-arrested-detained-immigration/.

National Immigrant Justice Center:

https://immigrantjustice.org/immigration-legal-

services

**

“Make it real to me” written by Athena Promachus, covered by Boy Bowser

The Trans Narrative was created, and produced by Caroline Penny, powered by Spotify for podcasters

If you’d like to reach out, or be apart of the show contact us at

“transnarrativepodcast@gmail.com”

Support and donations can be made to cash app tag $gottabesomthinmore

Find us Facebook, TikTok, and on Apple, Spotify, and iHeartRadio, or anywhere you listen to podcasts

“This podcast ethically uses Chat GPT/Zoom AI to generate episode summaries, ensuring accuracy while maintaining the integrity and intent of our guests’ stories.”

Thank you for your support

Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

S.A.F.E. (Self Abuse Finally Ends) 1-800-DONT-CUT

American Foundation for low vision 212-502-7633.

Trevor Hotline (Suicide) 1-866-4-U-TREVOR

Family Violence Prevention Center 1-800-313-1310

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE

Drug Abuse National Helpline 1-800-662-4357

National Human Service Call Center 2-1-1

On this episode, Athena and Caroline have the pleasure of sitting down with Jordan Braxton as they explore Jordan’s extraordinary journey of self-discovery, activism, and community leadership. Jordan shares her life story beginning in Kansas City, reflecting on the experiences that shaped her identity as a proud trans woman and intersex individual.

Through vulnerability, laughter, and wisdom, Jordan speaks to the importance of embracing authenticity, surviving systemic challenges, and leading with heart and purpose across multiple generations of LGBTQIA+ advocacy.

Together, they delve into Jordan’s decades of work in HIV prevention, her leadership roles in St. Louis’s Pride organizations, and the founding of the historic Transgender Memorial Garden. Jordan also shares insights from her performance career as Dieta Pepsi, where art, joy, and activism intersect to uplift and fund vital community programs. The conversation expands into the ongoing fight for sexual health education, the crucial role of trans voices in legislation, and the powerful coalitions Jordan is building across Missouri to ensure HIV prevention, care, and trans rights remain at the forefront.

“Jordan Braxton has been an activist in the St. Louis LGBTQIA+ community for nearly 40 years, raising awareness about HIV/AIDS, Intersex, and Trans Rights. She serves as Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Outreach for Pride St. Louis, Vice President of St. Louis Black Pride and Transparent, and Chair of the City of St. Louis Mayor’s LGBTQIA+ Advisory Board. Jordan is also a Co-chair of the Minority AIDS Initiative Committee and a member of the Metro St. Louis HIV Health Services Planning Council. She currently works at Vivent Health as a Prevention Supervisor, overseeing Project Impact and Ending the Epidemic grants. Jordan is the Chair of the Transgender/Gender Diverse Workgroup for Missouri’s Comprehensive Planning Group. Beyond advocacy, she is beloved for her performance as Dieta Pepsi, through which she has raised funds for organizations like Doorways, Food Outreach, and Metro Trans Umbrella Group. Jordan is also the founder of the Transgender Memorial Garden—the first memorial garden dedicated to transgender people in the United States.”

**

“Make it real to me” written by Athena Promachus, covered by Boy Bowser

The Trans Narrative was created, and produced by Caroline Penny, powered by Spotify for podcasters

If you’d like to reach out, or be apart of the show contact us at

“transnarrativepodcast@gmail.com”

Support and donations can be made to cash app tag $gottabesomthinmore

Find us Facebook, TikTok, and on Apple, Spotify, and iHeartRadio, or anywhere you listen to podcasts

“This podcast ethically uses Chat GPT/Zoom AI to generate episode summaries, ensuring accuracy while maintaining the integrity and intent of our guests’ stories.”

Thank you for your support

Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

S.A.F.E. (Self Abuse Finally Ends) 1-800-DONT-CUT

American Foundation for low vision 212-502-7633.

Trevor Hotline (Suicide) 1-866-4-U-TREVOR

Family Violence Prevention Center 1-800-313-1310

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE

Drug Abuse National Helpline 1-800-662-4357

National Human Service Call Center 2-1-1