Afterlives: Marsha P. Johnson
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About This Podcast
Marsha P. Johnson is THE icon of the LGBTQ+ movement and one of the mothers of the fight for trans rights. Today, you can buy T-shirts emblazoned with her face or walk through a park named in her honor. This season on Afterlives, we hear from Marsha in her own words.
Afterlives is a documentary podcast series about trans lives we’ve lost and the ways their stories have reshaped our world. Host Raquel Willis brings Marsha’s story to life through rare archival interviews and intimate conversations with queer elders, friends, and historians. Legend says she threw the first brick at the Stonewall riots, setting off the modern movement for queer rights. Immortalized by Warhol and known as “The Saint of Christopher Street,” Marsha was also unhoused, surviving through sex work, navigating violence, and resisting with joy.
More than 30 years after her still-unsolved death in the Hudson River, Marsha’s voice resounds louder than ever. As trans rights face renewed threats, Afterlives celebrates Marsha’s story and reflects on her enduring power as a trans ancestor.
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Recent Episodes
S2E13 Remembering Miss Major
In light of Miss Major's passing on October 13th, we're honoring the story of a true legend and sharing never heard before excerpts of her interview for Afterlives. May she rest in power and may we…
S2E12 Live Show: Tourmaline and Special Guests at The Stonewall Inn!
Tune in to a magical night spent at The Stonewall Inn celebrating Marsha's 80th Birthday! The Afterlives live show kicked off with an unforgettable performance by Hot Peach Michael Michelle Lynch,…
S2E11 Vote for Afterlives in the Signal Awards!
We need YOUR vote to win a Signal Award. We’re SO excited to announce that Afterlives: Marsha P. Johnson is a finalist for Best LGBTQ+ Limited Series! It means so much to our whole team and this is…
S2E10 Bonus: Ceyenne & Jay Look Back at the Queer Underground
Before Pride was corporate. Before protections. Before visibility. There was survival—and there was community. In this bonus episode, we sit at the feet of two living legends of New York’s queer…
S2E9 Bonus: Tourmaline, Marsha’s Biographer
Hear the story of the brilliant activist, artist and writer who has been researching Marsha for nearly 20 years! We’re sharing unaired segments of our multiple conversations with Tourmaline, so you…
S2E8 Episode 8: The Other Side of the Rainbow
These days, you don’t have to go far to find Marsha. Every June, big box stores roll out the Pride merch, with t-shirts, candles, and ornaments adorned with Marsha’s image. But what happens when…
S2E7 Episode 7: I Hope Nobody Cries, Darling
Marsha spent the final days of her life surrounded by people who loved her. When she was struggling with an oncoming breakdown, a friend escaped with her to a cottage on the beach. Her final Pride…
S2E6 Episode 6: Profound Acts of Care
The AIDS crisis devastated our community in the 1980s. It’s an era defined by loss. But those feelings of helplessness gave rise to unprecedented love in the form of caretaking and bold activism. For…
S2E5 Episode 5: “I stole the show!”
Marsha’s status as an icon extends beyond activism and into the arts. She was an inspiration to others and a creative in her own right. From her trendsetting DIY looks salvaged from New York’s…
S2E4 Episode 4: Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries
“STAR is into two things very heavily. One is radical politics. And the second is prostitution.” At least that’s how one journalist in the 1970s described the Street Transvestite Action…
S2E3 Episode 3: Who Threw the First Brick at Stonewall?
There’s no moment in queer history more celebrated than the Stonewall riots, which set off the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. There’s also no event that’s more hotly debated. To separate the truth…
S2E2 Episode 2: From Elizabeth to Times Square
A trip to Elizabeth, New Jersey, brings us into the heart of Marsha’s upbringing. We sit down with her sister, Jeannie, and her nephew, Al, to get a picture of Marsha’s childhood home and hear…
S2E1 Episode 1: The Saint of Christopher Street
Watching Marsha P. Johnson get ready for a date feels like spying on a long lost auntie. On some level, that’s exactly who Marsha is as a mother in the fight for trans rights. But in her grainy home…
S2 Introducing: Afterlives Season 2: Marsha P. Johnson
Marsha P. Johnson is THE icon of the LGBTQ+ movement and a mother of the fight for trans rights. Today, you can buy T-shirts emblazoned with her face or walk through a park named in her honor. This…
Bonus: An Announcement from Afterlives!
Host Raquel Willis takes a moment to check in on the state of the world and our community. Plus, some exciting news about next season! Make sure you and your friends are subscribed because the stakes…
S1 Bonus: The History of the Stroll & Stories from a Trans Elder
Two incredible trans storytellers, Kristen Lovell and Cecilia Gentili, share how they found their power in interview segments you haven’t heard before. Kristen Lovell, the documentary filmmaker…
S1 Bonus: The Legacy of Xtravaganza & Trans Lives on Screen
Enjoy unaired excerpts of interviews with two brilliant authors: Sydney Baloue and Tre’vell Anderson. Sydney Baloue, who is currently writing Undeniable: A History of Voguing, Ballroom, and How it…
S1E7 Episode 7: Trans Futures
Layleen’s spirit is very much alive in her sister Melania’s home: photos dot the walls, a recording of Layleen’s voice lives inside her daughter’s teddy bear, and Melania surrounds herself with…
S1E6 Episode 6: A Rallying Cry
Every year, the anniversary of Layleen’s death is a reminder to ask: has anything really changed? Many organizers have been personally touched by Layleen’s story and have spent years advocating for…
S1E5 Episode 5: Not Resting In Peace
June 2019 was especially deadly for trans women of color. Amidst a celebration of World Pride and the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a crowd of 600 people came together to mourn Layleen…
Frequently Asked Questions
Afterlives: Marsha P. Johnson has published 25 episodes since November 2023, covering topics in Documentary, Society & Culture.
Afterlives: Marsha P. Johnson is currently dormant with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 47m.
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