PopagandaInvisibility

If you can choose to be invisible, it’s a superpower. There’s nothing more magical than the idea that you could waltz through a room unseen or eavesdrop on anyone without them knowing. But when invisibility is not a choice—when it’s forced on you—it’s a curse.

You ever say something in a crowded room and no one listens? You ever turn on the TV and feel like no one else like you actually exists?

Invisibility is the theme of Bitch magazine’s summer print issue. What are we not seeing in our films? Who are we not hearing from in our media? Despite having more technology than ever before to broadcast ourselves into the world, who remains invisible?

On this episode, we talk with two authors featured in the Invisibility print issue: Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha sets some ground rules for the often-invisible work of emotional labor, and lawyer and activist Andrea Ritchie discusses her powerful new book Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color. Plus, musician Julia Weldon shares their new album Comatose Hope, which explores the terrifying experience of falling into a coma after gender-confirmation top surgery. Listen in. 

FULL SHOW

INTERVIEW WITH JULIA WELDON

INTERVIEW ON “A MODEST PROPOSAL” 

INTERVIEW ON POLICE VIOLENCE

SPONSOR 
This episode is sponsored by the band Secret Emchy Society. From “Two Feet and a Dream” to “Sorrows Drowned,” their album The Stars Fall Shooting Into Twangsville will take you on a gritty and beautiful tour down the dusty roads of life and into the darkest corners of your heart. If you dig songs that will make you want to dance while you cry, if you long for Americana made by and for those who live at the edges of American culture, visit Secret Emchy Society’s bandcamp page at emchy.bandcamp.com and order Stars Fall Shooting today.

SHOUT-OUTS 

• The photo of Leah is by Heidi Andrea Restrepo Rhodes, and the photo featured on the Soundcloud embed of the full show is by Sergio (CC).