When Abby ended up at Alcatraz Island one cold winter night in his 20s, he had found himself at the epicenter of the Indian Pride Movement. It blew his mind and made him feel that he had come home to a part of himself that had been missing.

Abby is an Indigenous Chicano leader who is part of the Yaqui tribe. It’s been 50 years since that night at Alcatraz, but it stands out as a turning point in his life. Together, we look back at his family history and the history of his people to reflect on Indigenous teachings, his family’s involvement in the monumental Brown v. Board of Education case, and his own participation in historic strikes like the Grape Boycott. Personally, our interview made me investigate my own identity as a Chicana and how I live out my values. But I believe anyone will walk away from this conversation drawing strength from those who came before us.

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Too often miners are painted almost as caricatures - as conservative, ignorant, poor, depressed, and selfish. The reality is that miners often go unheard. Coming from families of multi-generational coal miners is a core part of who Danny, Terry, and Charles are. But what they’re most proud of is being in a union.

From their childhoods spent playing in the Appalachian mountains, to their first day inside the mines, to a career-defining strike, they paint us a picture of their lives over decades. Today, they continue to fight to be seen in their community, and by our nation at large. In our interview, they each get candid about regrets they’ve had, lessons they’ve learned, and hopes they hold onto for the future of West Virginia. I went into this conversation hoping to find working class solidarity, and came away feeling even more empowered than I had imagined.

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Daniel says being trans is just a small part of his identity. His obsession with Radiohead is a way bigger part of his life—it’s often in the queue during his drive to and from high school. Most high schoolers are probably fixated on their favorite bands. But most 16 year olds haven’t testified in front of their representatives or organized a protest (and dance party) in front of the Supreme Court.

Daniel invites us into his world as a young trans Latino in Arizona. Growing up near the border he’s surrounded by Mexican culture and immersed in communities of queer folks and artists of color. He paints a different picture than you might imagine for someone living as a double minority in a red state. He explains why it’s not so simple to pack up and move even when facing the threat of harmful legislation. This season I really wanted to hear from a young person about what they wished for the world and I was lucky to meet someone as empathetic and generous as Daniel. He gets real about navigating family ties and friendships as an in-betweener and speaks honestly about how his age affects his activism.

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Students often ask Mr. J why he’s a teacher. They say he just seems too cool. He used to be one of these students - he went to the high school he teaches at today. Back then, being a teacher seemed like the lamest job in the world to him. But now, he’s a testament to the fact that you can indeed be a “cool teacher.”

As Black man in his early thirties, Mr. J knows he’s in a unique position to teach in the predominantly Black community where he was born and raised. Sometimes it’s not just about what’s on the board but the ways that he can be a role model. I wanted to know about the day to day realities of working in a profession known for being underpaid, overworked, and yet, extremely important. He talks about the highs and hardships of his job and he opens up about his own adolescence, sharing his ambitions and the times he’s felt underestimated.

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It was during her teenage years that Kiana’s life changed dramatically due to pain. She wanted to be an actor and a singer but her condition put that dream on hold. Instead of attending a prestigious performing arts program, she spent her early 20s confined to her bed.

I met Kiana doing theater in high school, but didn’t know everything she was going through. More than a decade after graduating, it was a privilege to reconnect. We talked about her diagnosis and how it’s affected her relationships, responsibilities, and art. Everything in her life is still impacted by an unseen battle, but as she has received better treatment Kiana is grateful to be expanding her horizons and showing up for her Minneapolis community in new ways.

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In high school, Francisco didn’t fit in with his white, upper middle class, conservative classmates and he didn’t want to. Maybe it was teenage angst, but his identity revolved around being different and rebellious. As he got older, he channeled his punk rock spirit into a fight for social change. Now, he’s a community organizer in Philly dedicated to finding common ground.

My brother Francisco has always been someone I’ve looked up to because he’s never been afraid to stand up for what he believes is right. I loved sitting down to rehash our childhood memories together, but I also learned what motivates him to get up every morning and do the hard work of building a better world. As our country experiences a resurgence of strikes, mutual aid, and activism I thought we could all take something away from Franscisco’s winding path towards organizing.

To learn about the organizations and resources Francisco mentions in the episode, check out the Center for Popular Democracy (and their affiliates), the AFL CIO, Democratic Socialists of America, Make the Road NY, and the Working Families Party.

Note: This interview happened prior to the election.

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Community, resilience, legacy and being underestimated are the themes at the heart of this season. Meet everyday yet extraordinary Americans - from a community organizer in Philly, to a trans teen in Arizona, unionized coal miners in West Virginia, and an artist with chronic illness in Minnesota. These stories will leave you feeling inspired, connected, and seen.

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UPDATE: We will be back in November!

We’re honoring International Workers’ Day with an exciting announcement - season two of When You’re Invisible is coming this July! We’ll be talking about labor, organizing, and community.

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