Hey, fam, it's me, Amara.

Welcome to the TransLash podcast, a show where we tell trans stories to save trans lives.

Today we're tackling one of the darkest and one of the most impactful forces in this political moment.

And that's digital authoritarianism.

From social media surveillance to coordinated harassment campaigns,

authoritarian governments and bad actors, including those connected to our own government,

are using technology and the internet as a tool of manipulation and control.

With the likes of Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, growing ever more powerful and unconstrained,

this is a threat that we need to be prepared for and to see clearly.

This is especially true for trans people, who already face censorship, de-platforming, and targeted abuse.

So how do we get here? How are disinformation networks weaponized against our communities,

and what can we do to fight back? To help us break it all down, I talk with information

scientist and writer Catherine Alejandra Cross. What they believe is that the technology created by startups and by tech companies,

everything from apps to particular pieces of physical technology, are now sufficiently sophisticated

as to replace government of by and for the people.

But before we get to celebrate someone who Today's episode touches on some disturbing undercurrents that will profoundly impact the next generation.

So we wanted to celebrate someone who is helping nurture young people through these challenging times.

Catherine Chen is a primary school teacher who brings their full self to the classroom,

modeling authenticity and kindness for their students every day.

As an educator, they champion inclusion, cultivate curiosity, and show the next generation the power of being unapologetically themselves.

In a world that often underestimates the brilliance of trans and non-binary folks,

Catherine is proof that our presence in every space,

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