Raine on the Radio: Interviews, Podcasts, and...Periods?
Recently, I had the fantastic opportunity to participate in several podcast episodes and radio shows to discuss TMI Project's recent event Period Power! Stories.
Period Power! Stories is a program that led youth activists from Kingston High School’s Period Power! club through a true storytelling workshop to create stories that break stigma around menstruation. The goal? To end period poverty at Kingston High School by ensuring high-quality, environmentally-friendly products are available to all students at all times. The content created during the workshop will be used in a variety of different ways to serve as a blueprint for schools across the country to do the same.
The workshop, which I had the absolute pleasure to facilitate, culminated in a live performance at The Senate Garage in Kingston, NY on December 6th, 2023. If you'd like to check it out, you can watch the entire show on TMI Project's Youtube here.
Where you can catch me:
The TMI Project Story Hour on No One Like You
Join me and my amazing Period Power! Stories co-facilitator Dara Lurie on The TMI Project Story Hour on No One Like You. We had a blast talking about the history of menstruation education with host Julie Novak and co-host Blake Pfeil. Leave it to the ineffable power of Julie, who I am so honored to call my friend, to turn serious discussions around creating safe spaces for young people to share their experiences with menstruation and period poverty - into light-hearted, humorous banter. Tune in to the episode on Radio Kingston archives.
The TMI Project Story Hour
I have to admit - this is the one I'm most excited to share with you all: In this enlightening podcast episode of the award-winning podcast, The TMI Project Story Hour, Eva highlights the stories of workshop participant and Kingston High School student Katie, Period Power! Club founder Tina. As a trans man, I don't often get the chance to talk about my experience with my periods - and it was so freeing to have my story featured alongside Katie and Tina's. Additionally, it gives you a behind-the-scenes glimpse at how Period Power! Stories was created. Listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or here on Apple Podcasts.
The Pfeil File
Most recently, I had the pleasure of chatting with Blake Pfeil, host of Radio Kingston's The Pfeil File - and my fabulous friend and co-worker. We talked about Neopets, millennial music, reconnecting with your hometown, and the significance of storytelling in destigmatizing menstruation and empowering young voices. You can listen to the episode on the Radio Kingston archives.
Working on this event was one of the highlights of my 2023. It was a reminder of why it is so important to invest time, energy, and resources into the next generation; it is because the answer, as it always has, lies with them. These students were attentive, vulnerable, and passionate throughout the course of the workshop and shared so much compassionate and support for their peers.
I hope, if you don't listen to any of my blabbering on, you at least give their stories a listen. I promise you - you'll walk away a better person by listening to these youth advocates.
Queerly yours,
Raine Grayson
