Afterlives: The Layleen Polanco Story

About Afterlives: The Layleen Polanco Story

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.

Publisher

iHeartPodcasts

Category

society & culture · true crime

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

8 Nov 2023

Latest episode

17 Oct 2025

Latest episodes

26 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   17 Oct 2025

   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 never lose sight of her legacy. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

2. 

   14 Oct 2025

   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, followed by the brilliant insights of Marsha's biographer Tourmaline, and closed out with words from Marsha's friends and family, plus a group rendition of Happy Birthday! See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

3. 

   26 Sept 2025

   Vote for Afterlives in the Signal Awards!

   We need YOUR vote to win a Signal Award (https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvote.signalaward.com%2FPublicVoting%23%2F2025%2Flimited-series-specials%2Fgenre%2Flgbtq&data=05%7C02%7Cjoeypatt%40iheartmedia.com%7C6fcc8a4df0b040ec3c4f08ddfd14ea70%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638944988451477382%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=04XnvUnG%2BVnlAape3fXxPjJv2MipJ5mH25f7TMdoEcM%3D&reserved=0). 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 an incredible opportunity to share Marsha's story with all new listeners. If you enjoyed listening, please VOTE HERE: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2025/limited-series-specials/genre/lgbtq (https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvote.signalaward.com%2FPublicVoting%23%2F2025%2Flimited-series-specials%2Fgenre%2Flgbtq&data=05%7C02%7Cjoeypatt%40iheartmedia.com%7C6fcc8a4df0b040ec3c4f08ddfd14ea70%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638944988451493380%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=HVwPPDjNtm4X5BKuJ3kezVEOgAQZsUyk7TwD3sD5gYE%3D&reserved=0) See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Who has been a guest on Afterlives: The Layleen Polanco Story

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Jeannie
• Al
• Marsha P Johnson

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

419,108,275

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.1 / 5

206 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

57 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 64 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

52

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

98

Contact Afterlives: The Layleen Polanco Story

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Afterlives: The Layleen Polanco Story