The design of our communities is an intentional act that often excludes and doesn’t center folks at the margins. Queer For Cities is a podcast about life at the intersections of identity and place and designing equity-centered, liberated communities where LGBTQ+ folx thrive.
When we build queer-inclusive cities, we build better cities for everyone.
Hosted by Joshua Croke, a queer and nonbinary designer, facilitator, and mixed-media artist working at the intersections of community justice, urban development, and creative placemaking, this podcast is a journey into the heart of New England's cities and beyond. We’re diving into the heart of queer urban life, from community health to the creative economy, and everything in between.
We’re out to make queer a joyful norm.
In our debut season, we’re exploring what makes a city not just livable but a truly affirming and joyful place for queer and trans folks. We're bringing together voices from across the spectrum — from activists and artists to urban planners and architects — to share their stories, challenges, and triumphs in creating spaces where queer people thrive.
We’re coming in loud and queer. Hit that Subscribe button to follow and listen to Queer For Cities wherever you get your podcasts. Follow our journey, and let's envision and create cities where queer is a joyful norm. Visit us at QueerForCities.com and follow us @QueerForCities.
Send us a textThis Queer Universe with Ozzy Irving Gold-Shapiro🎙️ Welcome back to Queer for Cities! Episode 6—we made it!! We’re back with a captivating conversation with Ozzy Irving Gold-Shapiro, “a curious historian, Yiddishist, cultural worker, and raconteur living on Nipmuc, Pocumtuc, and Nonotuck land in so-called western Massachusetts.” Josh and Ozzy talk about their work at the intersections of identity and community engagement and how Ozzy is transforming how neighbors engage with eac...
4 Sept 2024
Love Your Labels' Queer AF, "the Queer Met Gala of MA" is Here!
Send us a textJoin Josh, your host, as they dive into the vibrant celebration of Queer AF, an art and fashion show that doubles as a fundraiser for Love Your Labels. This episode takes you behind the scenes with insightful interviews from key figures involved in organizing and participating in this unique event that champions queer and trans youth through art, fashion, and design.What You'll Hear:Introduction: Joshua shares exciting updates about the podcast and the impact of a new grant on t...
8 Jul 2024
The F Word is Fascism
The F Word is Fascism
🎙️ Welcome to Queer for Cities! In this episode, your host, Joshua Croke, features a wrap-up conversation with our last guest Aaron Greiner, who shares valuable perspectives on designing public spaces that truly center and uplift queer identities and talks about ways cities can build a foundation for inclusive community engagement. We also talk with Soledad Gonzalez and Gaby Batista and dive deep into the struggles and tactics against fascism faced by students at New College of Florida. Get ready for a poignant exploration of activism, resilience, and the crucial role of queer spaces in combating oppressive changes.
In This Episode:
🌈 Introduction and Host Welcome:
Joshua's reflections on Queer For Cities being delayed this Pride Month and the importance of rest and rejuvenation for activists.
Updates on Love Your Labels and anticipation for the Queer AF art and fashion show in September.
🏙️ Episode Theme: Tactics of Fascism:
A deep dive into the harsh realities of fascism as experienced firsthand by students resisting oppressive educational reforms under Governor Ron DeSantis.
Soledad and Gaby's insights into student-led resistance and the establishment of counter spaces amidst adversity.
🚦 Mission and Acknowledgments:
Reaffirming the mission to make queer a joyful norm and the significance of building inclusive communities.
Acknowledgment of the Nipmuc people's land and the historical and ongoing exploitation of marginalized labor.
🏳️🌈 Inclusive Placemaking Tactics:
Discussion on placemaking and its potential for queer communities, featuring insights from previous guest, Aaron Greiner, with CultureHouse and Fruit Stand.
Examination of the role of queer spaces and events in fostering inclusivity and safety, highlighting the innovative efforts.
📚 New College Takeover and Student Resistance:
Detailed coverage of the conservative takeover at New College, its impact on the student body, and the transformative power of student activism against systemic oppression.
🗣️ Host: Joshua Croke, Queer For Cities
👥 Guests: Soledad Gonzalez and Gaby Batista, Student Activists; Aaron Greiner (http://aarongreiner.com/), Urban Planner, Founder at CultureHouse (https://culturehouse.cc/), Co-founder of FruitStand (https://linktr.ee/fruitstand.gay)
🎧 Tune in: You can listen to Queer For Cities loud and queer wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5 FM (https://wicn.org/), Worcester’s only NPR affiliate station. Tune in on Wednesdays at 6 PM and Sundays at 11 PM and find us at QueerForCities.com (http://queerforcities.com). Queer For Cities is created and hosted by Joshua Croke (https://www.joshuacroke.com/). Our Assistant Producer is Jack Tripp. Our Audio Engineer & Music Producer is Giuliano D’Orazio (https://musicbygiuliano.com/).
👕 Buy Queer For Cities Merch! (https://www.queerforcities.com/store)
📣 Supporters & Ad Shoutouts:
VolturnoPizza.com (http://volturnopizza.com)
Love Your Labels: Supporting queer and trans youth through art, fashion, and design. Learn more about our programs and how you can support at loveyourlabels.org (http://loveyourlabels.org).
📘 Sources & Research for this episode can be found in the full transcript.
Queer For Cities is about life at the intersections and designing equity-centered, liberated communities where LGBTQ+ folx thrive. Follow us @QueerForCities (https://www.instagram.com/queerforcities) and QueerForCities.com (https://www.queerforcities.com/). Hosted by Joshua Croke (https://www.joshuacroke.com/). #QueerForCities
29 May 2024
Let’s Be Queer in Public with Aaron Greiner
Let’s Be Queer in Public with Aaron Greiner
🎙️ Welcome to Queer for Cities! Join your host, Joshua Croke, for a dynamic dive into the intersections of queer identity, urban planning, and public space with special guest Aaron Greiner. Aaron is an innovative urban designer dedicated to crafting more inclusive cities, and he's here to share his insights on how queer urbanism benefits everyone.
In This Episode:
🌈 Introduction to Queer for Cities:
Mission: Making queer a joyful norm and creating equity-centered, liberated communities.
The importance of allyship and foundational concepts like equity and intersectionality.
Land and labor acknowledgments honoring the Nipmuc people and enslaved workers whose labor built the nation.
🎨 Meet Aaron Greiner:
Aaron's journey from engineering to urban design, sparked by his studies in Copenhagen.
Founding CultureHouse and Fruit Stand to reimagine urban spaces and foster queer-inclusive events.
🏙️ Queer Urbanism and Public Space:
The pivotal role of decision-makers in urban planning and its impact on city design.
How heterosexist perspectives shape our cities and public spaces.
The need to center identity and adaptability in urban design to create truly inclusive spaces.
🚦 Safety, Comfort, and Expression:
Exploring the intersection of safety and public space for queer people.
Highlighting inclusive spaces like Provincetown and their role in enhancing queer visibility and safety.
The profound significance of experiencing and expressing queerness in public.
🏳️🌈 Challenges and Opportunities:
The decline of traditional queer spaces like gay bars and the rise of inclusive queer events.
Strategies for building more queer-inclusive spaces by prioritizing marginalized communities.
Get ready for a thought-provoking and energizing conversation that unpacks the essence of queer urbanism and the transformative power of inclusive city planning. Tune in now to discover how we can build cities that celebrate and uplift queer identities, making them better for everyone.
///
Host: Joshua Croke, Queer For Cities
Guest: Aaron Greiner (http://aarongreiner.com/), Urban Planner, Founder at CultureHouse (https://culturehouse.cc/), Co-founder of FruitStand (https://linktr.ee/fruitstand.gay)
You can listen to Queer For Cities loud and queer wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5 FM (https://wicn.org/), Worcester’s only NPR affiliate station. Tune in on Wednesdays at 6 PM and Sundays at 11 PM and find us at QueerForCities.com (http://queerforcities.com). Queer For Cities is created and hosted by Joshua Croke (https://www.joshuacroke.com/). Our Assistant Producer is Jack Tripp. Our Audio Engineer & Music Producer is Giuliano D’Orazio (https://musicbygiuliano.com/).
Buy Merch! (https://www.queerforcities.com/store) Join us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/QueerForCities)
Shapeshifters: (https://shapeshifters.co/) Custom-made chest binders. Upcoming pride festival appearances and online store at shapeshifters.co.
Love Your Labels: (https://www.loveyourlabels.org/) Non-profit supporting queer and trans youth through art, fashion, and design programs. Upcoming events and more at loveyourlabels.org.
Queer For Cities is about life at the intersections and designing equity-centered, liberated communities where LGBTQ+ folx thrive. Follow us @QueerForCities (https://www.instagram.com/queerforcities) and QueerForCities.com (https://www.queerforcities.com/). Hosted by Joshua Croke (https://www.joshuacroke.com/). #QueerForCities
15 May 2024
Imagining Trans Futures & Building Queer Inclusive Cities
In this episode of Queer for Cities, host Joshua Croke discusses the intersection of identity and place, with a focus on the contributions of queer and trans people in designing inclusive and equitable communities. The episode features conversations with activist and community organizer, MG Xiong, who shares their experience as a Hmong Transmasculine and non-binary individual working in transgender advocacy and community building. The discussion touches on navigating challenging conversations, envisioning inclusive futures, and combating barriers to equitable living. The episode also highlights the importance of accountability, love, and support within the queer and trans communities to foster a more inclusive, joyful, and normative societal view of queerness. Additionally, there's an exploration of the challenges in philanthropy and resource distribution that impact transformational work for queer and trans rights.
00:00 Welcome to Queer for Cities: Making Queer a Joyful Norm
00:42 Spotlight on MG Xiong: A Journey of Identity and Advocacy
03:55 First Event: A Gathering for Trans and Non-Binary Folks
06:28 Featuring Derek Austin: Poetry and the Power of Words
08:48 Love Your Labels: Empowering Queer and Trans Youth
10:22 Envisioning a Liberated Future: Housing and Community Building
17:00 Challenging the Philanthropic Industrial Complex
34:18 MG's Podcast Preview: True Story, Trans Realities
43:27 Building Inclusive Communities: Accountability and Joy
49:35 Closing Thoughts and Community Engagement
You can listen to Queer For Cities loud and queer wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5 FM, Worcester’s only NPR affiliate station. Tune in on Wednesdays at 6 PM and Sundays at 11 PM and find us at QueerForCities.com (http://queerforcities.com). Queer For Cities is created and hosted by Joshua Croke. Our Assistant Producer is Jack Tripp. Our Audio Engineer & Music Producer is Giuliano D’Orazio.
Buy Merch! (https://www.queerforcities.com/store) Join us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/QueerForCities)
Nipmuc Nation (https://www.nipmucnation.org/)
MG Xiong / Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (https://www.masstpc.org/)
The Trans Community of New England (https://tcne.org/)
Derrick Austin (https://derricklynnaustin.wixsite.com/authorpage/about-me)
Love Your Labels (https://www.loveyourlabels.org/)
Stonewall Foundation (https://www.stonewallfoundation.org/advisor-fall-2023/2023/9/27/lgbtq-grantmaking-by-us-foundation)
The Faggots & Their Friends Between Revolutions (https://nightboat.org/book/the-faggots-their-friends-between-revolutions/)
adrienne maree brown (https://adriennemareebrown.net/)
Taj Smith / Rooted Respite (https://www.rootedrespite.com/)
Queer For Cities is about life at the intersections and designing equity-centered, liberated communities where LGBTQ+ folx thrive. Follow us @QueerForCities (https://www.instagram.com/queerforcities) and QueerForCities.com (https://www.queerforcities.com/). Hosted by Joshua Croke (https://www.joshuacroke.com/). #QueerForCities
8 May 2024
Out To Make Queer a Joyful Norm
Queer for Cities' inaugural episode, hosted by Joshua Croke, delves into the significance of creating inclusive, equitable, and joyful urban spaces for queer and trans folks. Josh introduces the show's mission to advocate for queer urbanism as a means to improve cities for everyone. The podcast highlights the challenges that marginalized groups, especially queer and trans folks, face in urban settings, emphasizing the importance of intentional design in making cities more inclusive. It also touches on the intersectionality of various marginalized identities and the compounded effects of discrimination. The episode features guests MG Xiong and Taj Smith, who discuss their personal journeys and the broader significance of visibility, belonging, and connection for queer and trans people. Additionally, the show explores the intersections of queer identity with religious beliefs, the importance of affirming spaces, and the potential of science fiction in imagining inclusive futures. Tune in next week for part 2!
00:00 Welcome to Queer for Cities: Unveiling the Vision
00:27 Introducing Joshua Croke: Queer Urbanist
00:55 The Mission: Building Inclusive Cities for All
02:12 Why Language Matters: Embracing Queer and Trans Identities
03:35 Setting the Stage: Values and Goals for Our Community
07:26 Acknowledging the Land and Its People
12:19 Exploring Queer Urban Life: Guests Share Their Stories
24:52 Navigating Family and Religion as Queer Individuals
37:14 Imagining Trans Futures in Religion and Beyond
44:05 Poetry and Hope: Envisioning a World That Values Life
You can listen to Queer For Cities loud and queer wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5 FM, Worcester’s only NPR affiliate station. Tune in on Wednesdays at 6 PM and Sundays at 11 PM and find us at QueerForCities.com (http://queerforcities.com). Queer For Cities is created and hosted by Joshua Croke. Our Assistant Producer is Jack Tripp. Our Audio Engineer & Music Producer is Giuliano D’Orazio.
Buy Merch! (https://www.queerforcities.com/store) Join us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/QueerForCities)
Creative Reaction Lab (https://crxlab.org/)
Facing History and Ourselves (https://www.facinghistory.org/)
Nipmuc Nation (https://www.nipmucnation.org/)
The Trans Community of New England / First Event (https://tcne.org/first-event/)
Taj Smith / Rooted Respite (https://www.rootedrespite.com/)
Love Your Labels (https://www.loveyourlabels.org/)
Tamiko Beyer (https://www.tamikobeyer.com/)
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (https://www.masstpc.org/)
Queer For Cities is about life at the intersections and designing equity-centered, liberated communities where LGBTQ+ folx thrive. Follow us @QueerForCities (https://www.instagram.com/queerforcities) and QueerForCities.com (https://www.queerforcities.com/). Hosted by Joshua Croke (https://www.joshuacroke.com/). #QueerForCities
1 Apr 2024
Introducing Queer For Cities!
The design of our communities is an intentional act that often excludes and doesn’t center folks at the margins. Queer For Cities is a podcast about life at the intersections of identity and place and designing equity-centered, liberated communities where LGBTQ+ folx thrive.
When we build queer-inclusive cities, we build better cities for everyone.
Hosted by Joshua Croke, a queer and nonbinary designer, facilitator, and mixed-media artist working at the intersections of community justice, urban development, and creative placemaking, this podcast is a journey into the heart of New England's cities and beyond. We’re diving into the heart of queer urban life, from community health to the creative economy, and everything in between.
We’re out to make queer a joyful norm.
In our debut season, we’re exploring what makes a city not just livable but a truly affirming and joyful place for queer and trans folks. We're bringing together voices from across the spectrum — from activists and artists to urban planners and architects — to share their stories, challenges, and triumphs in creating spaces where queer people thrive.
We’re coming in loud and queer. Hit that Subscribe button to follow and listen to Queer For Cities wherever you get your podcasts. Follow our journey, and let's envision and create cities where queer is a joyful norm.
Queer For Cities is about life at the intersections and designing equity-centered, liberated communities where LGBTQ+ folx thrive. Follow us @QueerForCities (https://www.instagram.com/queerforcities) and QueerForCities.com (https://www.queerforcities.com/). Hosted by Joshua Croke (https://www.joshuacroke.com/). #QueerForCities
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4 ratings
Spotify
4.6 / 5
10 ratings
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