Take the Last Bite is a direct counter to the Midwest Nice mentality— highlighting advocacy & activism by queer/trans communities in the Midwest region. Each episode unearths the often disregarded and unacknowledged contributions of queer & trans folks to social change through interviews, casual conversations and reflections on Midwest queer time, space, and place. For questions, comments and feedback: takethelastbite@gmail.com Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them Cover Art: Adrienne McCormick
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April 29, 2026Episode 41 hr 49 min
Executive Ordered Out of Existence Pt. 3
We take a bite out of THE BIG ONE – the final installment of Executive Ordered out of Existence, where we’ll cover the calamity that was September 2025 through December 2025 and what fresh hell delivered us into the new year. We’ll talk about the death of a deity-ified podcaster, the heftiest headlines impacting queer and trans people, and the pointiest tools of propaganda churned out across the end of 2025. Let’s get into it, and be sure to check out Executive Ordered Out of Existence Pt. 1 and Pt. 2! Connect with Take the Last Bite on Instagram @take.the.last.bite and TikTok @take.the.last.bite For questions, comments and feedback: takethelastbite@gmail.com More to Bite Into: “Laverne Cox Dated a MAGA Cop… Let’s Talk About It” – Olay & Friends“The Anatomy of a Liberatory Think Tank” – Take the Last Bite“What is Queer Food? How We Served a Revolution” – John Birdsall “The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson” – Tourmaline
March 3, 2026Episode 31 hr 34 min
For the Record: Wisdom from Trans & Nonbinary Writers
Description: We take a bite out of books by trans & nonbinary writers! This episode originally aired as a live panel discussion for the annual Transgender Justice Teach-In and features writers, educators, and published authors Katie Barnes, Dr. Jonathan Paul Higgins, and Cody Daigle-Orians. We’ve pulled the discussion into audio format and revisited the lessons learned about sharing the sacred stories of trans and binary people. Panelist Bios Dr. Jonathan Paul Higgins (they/them) is an educator, professor, national speaker, freelance journalist, thought leader and media critic who is passionate about television and film. Dr. Higgins is currently the inaugural Director of Strategic Media and Advocacy for Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance, while once holding roles at both Chernin and Edith Entertainment.They are the creator, executive producer and host of the Webby honored and Shorty Award Winning podcast, “Black Fat Femme Podcast'' which was developed via IHeartMedia’s Next Up Initiative and named “Best Podcast to listen to” by both Ebony and Essence Magazine. Dr. Higgins holds a doctorate in educational justice and regularly writes and lectures on what liberation means for Black, queer, fat, non-binary people.Katie Barnes (they/them) is an award winning journalist covering the intersection of sports and gender. As a feature writer at ESPN, Katie has profiled women’s sports superstars like Maya Moore, A’ja Wilson, and Amanda Nunes. They are a leading journalist in the coverage of legislation and policy affecting transgender and intersex athletes. Fair Play: How Sports Shape the Gender Debates is their first book. It was named a “Must-Read of 2023” by Time Magazine and received starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus. Cody Daigle-Orians (they/them) is a writer and educator based in Columbus, Ohio. They are the creator of Ace Dad Advice, a social-media based education project which provides approachable, affirming information about the asexual, aromantic and agender communities. They are also the author of I AM ACE and THE ACE AND ARO RELATIONSHIP GUIDE, two young adult nonfiction resources, and LOVE LOOKS LIKE LOLA, the first aroace picture book for young readers, out in 2026. Find them on IG, Youtube, Tiktok @acedadadvice
February 11, 2026Episode 247 min
Executive Ordered Out of Existence Pt. 2
It’s been 365 days (and counting) since Inauguration Day. And in that time, queer and trans people’s lives have been disrupted through extensive federal orders mandating the end of life-saving research, disruptions to medical care access, sinister soundbites about our mental health and viability as humans, and the reinvention of reality according to the far-right. This multi-episode overview of key moments over the last year provide somber reminders of what we’ve already been through and rally cries for queer and trans people to lean into lessons already learned to fight back against the faulty idea that you can executive order a community out of existence. Part Two covers April 2025 - August 2025, including the deportation of Andry Hernandez Romero, the life and defiance of Marsha P. Johnson, and the evolution of citizen journalism. Connect with Take the Last Bite on Instagram @take.the.last.bite and TikTok @take.the.last.bite For questions, comments and feedback: takethelastbite@gmail.com
February 4, 2026Episode 11 hr 0 min
Executive Ordered Out of Existence (Pt. One)
It’s been 365 days (and counting) since Inauguration Day. In that time, queer and trans people’s lives have been disrupted through extensive federal orders mandating the end of life-saving research, disruptions to medical care access, sinister soundbites about our mental health and viability as humans, and the reinvention of reality according to the far-right. This multi-episode overview of key moments over the last year provide somber reminders of what we’ve already been through and rally cries for queer and trans people to lean into lessons already learned to fight back against the faulty idea that you can executive order a community out of existence. Part one covers January 2025 - March 2025, including the earliest swarm of executive orders, the impacts on education, and personal revelations about media, journalism, and storytelling. Connect with Take the Last Bite on Instagram @take.the.last.bite and TikTok @take.the.last.bite For questions, comments and feedback: takethelastbite@gmail.com Additional Links: Movement Advancement Project Survey: https://www.mapresearch.org/2025-norc-survey-report SunnyDaeJones video on Executive Order “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT0Udeu6T_g
July 16, 2024Episode 648 min
Knowledge in the Land, Stories in the Seeds
We take a bite out of the First Nations Garden, a healing space for the Intertribal Native community of Chicago. Co-founder Fawn Pochel (they/kwe) shares the origins of this youth-led project, the importance of establishing and maintaining relationship with plant relatives, and how the garden has transformed the neighborhood and provided a community gathering place for celebrations, education, and practicing intertribal traditions. Additional Resources and References from this episode: Learn more about First Nations Garden and follow the project at @firstnationsgarden Chi Nations Youth Council – a youth organization creating safe space for Native youth through arts, activism, and education. Follow the council @chinationsyouthcouncil Indigenous Grounds – an emerging organization striving to create a more sustainable world. Follow the project @indigenous.groundsPrevious Take the Last Bite episodes that center food justice, the joys of growing and cooking food, and innovations in urban farming: Queers Who Make Beers – a chat with queer and trans folks in the craft microbrewing industry working to improve working conditions for marginalized service workersFerrets, Farming, and Fat-Kid Food – a segment about growing basil in shipping containers and a segment about cooking with taste-loss due to long-COVID‘Chef’ is Gender Neutral – brunch baddie Catie Randazzo talks about wanting to connect queer and trans youth to service industry skillsFor questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.orgWe’re on TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.orgHost: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of strategy and impact for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender DiversityCover art: Adrienne McCormick
June 25, 2024Episode 548 min
A Midwest Princess and her Mighty Kingdom
We take a bite out of Chappell Roan through a brief queer history of Midwest music and media influences. Host R.B. Brooks (they/them) highlights queer and trans music artists with ties to the Midwest, how the Midwest is used intentionally in film and streaming series for dramatic effect, and the impact of Midwest stereotypes on racialized and gendered assumptions about the region.Additional Resources and References: In a Queer Time and Place by Jack HalberstamRolling Stone article about Chappel Roan’s Casual release Teen Vogue culture story about Chappell Roan Right On, Cuee (Take the Last Bite interview with Black trans hip hop artist Cuee WrightFor questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.orgWe’re on TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.orgHost: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of strategy and impact for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender DiversityCover art: Adrienne McCormick
June 4, 2024Episode 41 hr 10 min
The (Literal) Debate for Trans Lives [redux]
We take a bite out of local legislation with Minnesota State Representatives Liish Kozlowski (they/them) and Leigh Finke (she/her). We all have a role to play – but our roles aren’t all the same. We chat with these powerhouses about their motivations to run for office, their experiences on the legislative floor, and how Trans Refuge Bills can offer a pathway to improved living conditions for trans, nonbinary, two spirit, and intersex people.Additional Resources and References from this episode: Learn more about the Transgender Justice Teach-In and check out video recordings of our previous panel discussions.For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.orgWe’re on TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.orgHost: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of strategy and impact for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender DiversityCover art: Adrienne McCormick
May 21, 2024Episode 31 hr 13 min
Cause of Death: Kids
We bite into a hard conversation around Nex Benedict’s death as well as the two teenagers who killed Brianna Ghey receiving life sentences after jury conviction. Robert Alberts (they/them) and host R.B Brooks (they/them) process their rough thoughts and devastated feelings in an attempt to answer “what does it mean that the project of annihilating trans children has fallen into the hands of other children?” and also “what does justice look like in these instances?” Additional Resources and References from this episode: Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s office releases Nex Benedict’s autopsy reportTeenagers who killed Brianna Ghey receive life sentences after jury conviction TransLifeLife – a trans peer support and hotline run by trans volunteer For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org We’re on TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of strategy and impact for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
May 7, 2024Episode 242 min
Tristan and R.B. Take on Fat Con
We take a bite out of Fat Con! In January 2024, Tristan and R.B. attended Fat Con in Seattle, a celebration of fat joy featuring keynotes, a fashion show, and brunch. These fattie baddies reminisce on their glorious time at the inaugural event and share their aspirations for a Midwest Fat Fest.Additional Resources and References: Learn more about Fat Con in Seattle at FatCon.orgAlso check out Philly FatCon Revisit “Trans Fat: Lessons from Large Trans Folks” via video or podcast Timeline: The ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment” from the Columbia SpectatorFor questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org.We’re on TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.orgHost: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of strategy and impact for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender DiversityCover art: Adrienne McCormick
April 23, 2024Episode 156 min
Midwest: More than Cows, Corn, and Conservatives
We take a bite out of Midwest queer history! Vince Tripi (he/him, co/cos) is a homegrown historian dedicated to compiling LGBTQ+ history into digestible exhibits for pride-goers and LGBTQ+ youth. We chat about his latest project called “Flyover Country,” an exhibit highlighting LGBTQ+ firsts of the Midwest, including some wild discoveries about the first few years of the Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Asexual College Conference. Additional Resources and References from this episode: Check out all of Vince’s LGBTQ+ history exhibits: https://vince.lgbt/exhibits/Learn more about MBLGTACC at mblgtacc.orgRead the full news release about the Institute receiving an award an ACPA Learn more about the Coalition for Sexuality and Gender Identities For questions, comments, or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org.We’re on TikTok! You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.orgHost: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of strategy and impact for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender DiversityCover art: Adrienne McCormick
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