Hey fam, it's Mia Mara. Welcome to the TransLash podcast, a show where we tell trans

stories to save trans lives. During these perilous times, it's natural for us to think about

ways that we can keep each other safe.

Now, for many of us, this means creating mutual aid networks to share information, financial

and health resources, among all of the other ways.

But it also means that more and more trans people are thinking about forms of active self-defense.

And as a result, trans people are coming together to learn and practice across a range of self-defense techniques. From martial

arts to gun clubs, trans people are taking their personal safety into their own hands. That's why

today I'm joined by two guests who can help us think through personal safety

for trans people and what preparing for self-defense can actually look like in an era

when faith in law enforcement organizations, always precarious for trans people, has reached

new lows.

First up is Finn Smith, also known as the queer armorer online,

who is founder of Rainbow Reload.

It's a queer and trans-centered gun club in New Hampshire.

At this point, if someone in your community isn't armed,

your community is less safe.

And a lot of the queer community is suddenly realizing that.

Next up on the show is Abigail Austin,

a Thai boxing coach, and founder of Red Panda Muay Thai in Seattle, Washington.

Regardless of whether or not they need to learn those skills

because they're going to need to use them to keep themselves safe,

...