It's the Brian Laird Show on WNC.

Welcome back everybody.

I'm Bridget Bergen, filling in. It's the Brian Laird Show on WNYC.

Welcome back everybody.

I'm Bridget Bergen, filling in for Brian today.

We'll now talk about the life and legacy of Leilene Polanco.

Back in 2019, Lélene, a trans Afro-Litina woman, was sent to Rikers Island on drug and sex work charges.

At the age of 27, she suffered a fatal seizure in what was in effect solitary confinement.

A new podcast honors Leine's life and explores the systems that failed her.

The podcast is After Lives, the Leilene Polanco story, and it comes to us from Rakell Willis, known in part for

her work on the Trans Obituaries Project. Rakell Willis is a trans activist and the author of the

new book The Risk It Takes to Bloom on life and

liberation and she joins me now. Rochelle welcome back to WNYC.

Thank you so much for having me, Bridget.

And the listeners, we can take your calls about the life and legacy of Laeline Polanco, the number

212 433 WNYC, that692, 433 9692.

You can also call or text us or tweet at Brian Laird.

Rakell, before we begin our conversation,

I want to play just about a minute from this first episode.

Here's a clip from After Lives.

Here was an Afro-Latina whose story felt like it touched so many systems of power that affect

trans women.

...