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.

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Recent Reviews

mosdef522

Wonderful, Important!

This is such a great podcast. So well researched, and delivered with love and power! Thank you
I ❤️ cider

Amazing new season!

The first episode of the new season is incredible! Can’t wait to hear it all! What an iconic subject! So cool to hear the recordings of Marsha.
ebonyava916

Grateful For Trans Stories

Thank you for this. As you know we've experienced an assault on the way we navigate the world. I appreciate this so much right now.
Loyal666

Important History

Thank you for shedding light on Layleen’s story. Even in the LGBTQ community, her death (murder) from medical neglect was still mostly just a headline. I hope her family gets justice and that we all keep fighting for black trans women. It’s beautiful to learn about Layleen’s brilliant, resilient queer family.
iona trailer

Excellent podcast

This podcast brings Layleen’s spirit to life so listeners can hear all aspects of her life and death. Thank you for not only giving up the story of a beautiful woman, her life and her family, but also bringing lessons to learn from her inexcusable death. This is not just a tragic story. The podcast brings hope. Solutions surface through the work of Layleen’s family to work for bail reform, ending solitary confinement, exposing how trans people are especially vulnerable in prison, mental health services for incarcerated people, and the need to shut down Riker’s Island.
Hypnotropia

More Woke Victimhood Garbage

Trigger Warning: your whole belief system and worldview is based on ignorance and the denial of reality, using racism and discrimination to correct - or get revenge - for the perceived inequities of society when, especially in the example given in this podcast most of the struggles people deal with are the results of their own choices. Claiming victimhood doesn’t mean you suddenly get a free pass to be a criminal or a bigot, a racist or a jerk. This is stupid trash and if you listen to it you will be stupider afterward.
Chuck Dumpster

Typical trash made by a media that mocked trans people less than 10 year’s ago!

People naive enough to support this corporate-approved “struggle” of certain minority groups are going to have an extremely rough time once the rug is pulled out from their feet by the companies and entities currently pretending to care about these struggles. Everyone 25+ years old has witnessed these entities and corporations lie, cheat, steal and exploit anyone in order to get money. They are pretending to care for now. This will end soon enough. Dont believe me? Go to an arab country or any conservative culture and look at the advertising from the same companies that push woke propaganda in USA culture. They wont dare push that agenda in a place where it will destroy their reputation. If you don’t feel my warning is a problem, you will enjoy this show.
KSolisSilva

After Lives Affects Us All

Thank you for giving voice to Layleen’s story and the injustice she experienced in such a comprehensive manner. Her life matters. Trans Lives Matter. 🏳️‍⚧️
ElenMar

Bad

How about profile trans people who are trying to live their lives and have careers and find love. This is a story about a criminal.
Coleeth

Waste of Time

Don’t bother.
artisan613

Stop pretending this is normal.

We all deep down know that this is not normal. We are pretending because that’s the “in” thing to do right now, like a lot of other woke fads that develop every few years. I’m honestly curious what the next one will be. In reality this is the story of a mentally ill man (suffering from gender dysphoria) who was also a criminal. But no problem, keep pretending, and silencing anybody who says out loud what we’re all thinking.
iDoII

Wanted to listen but…

For then to question why she was in jail when she broke the law annoyed me and made m stop listening. She was in jail for a crime she committed, she had a seizure unfortunately but that’s not transphobic it’s negligent officers not checking on inmates properly
Big Bama Steve

Unsubscribe

Really? Ridiculous drivel.
cmdm

so good…

and important…
Cool5!

Excellent

Amazing podcast - a must listen for anyone who loves documentary storytelling
Rayannah21

Much needed!

Thank you for sharing Layleen’s story with us! Trans lives matter, always ❤️ I just completed Ep 5 and believe it’s the best one yet. I’m a consistent listener of podcasts, have great interest in the story the music tells, and wanted to provide constructive criticism. The music production fell off a bit Ep 3. The flow seems to have returned for Ep 5 as it flows so beautifully and I did. It get distracted by the sound choice. Overall, it’s all love and I’m looking forward to the remaining episodes.
chabonic

So important, so good

This show is incredibly important and so well made
imlisteninggg

Hooked

I was hooked by the first episode. Such a compelling and important story about a precious life that ended much too soon due to the systems that failed her. I can’t wait to learn more about Layleen’s life and legacy.
jujulia

Love these voices

I love how this show is rooted in making Layleen’s life feel complete. Such an important story.
YankeeDoodleJeter

Incredibly powerful - can’t wait for more!

Was hooked in the first 30 seconds. The storytelling is beautiful and tackles such an important subject with grace. Looking forward to hearing more!
Gmggfdkvgdxdfbttgbff

Amazing sound design!

For such a triggering topic, you can tell it was designed with a lot care and intention in mind.
Pdog107

Great podcast

This podcast tells a very important story. Raquel and the production team make this compelling story interesting to listen to, and shed light on the problematic ways of rikers jail. Looking forward to listening to the rest of the season.
morrima

Amazing podcast

This is going to be amazing podcast! incredible team behind it and such an important topic!
alexfromboston500

Great job

Amazing trailer and I can tell the show is gonna be fantastic.

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