Dem Bois Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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In this episode of Dem Bois Podcast I have an amazing conversation with Devon Ojeda, about the importance of community, identity, and resilience in the face of adversity. Devon shares their personal journey, including their experiences with trauma, spirituality, and the significance of their name change. They emphasize the radical act of living authentically and the importance of supporting trans rights through community and unionization. And, we touch on the potential for change and hope for the future of trans rights, highlighting the importance of visibility and collective action.

We talk:

05:53 - Finding home in Baltimore

12:10 -  Devon’s journey of name change and identity

20:51 - Survival, healing, and spirituality

30:08 - Parenting and acceptance of identity

40:55 - Intersectionality in the Trans Movement

52:08 - The importance of community and solidarity

Click here for transcription!

Episode References:

Dem Bois Podcast Ep. 3 - Surviving Homelessness

Read more about Devon in their bio below:

Devon Ojeda (they/he) is the Senior National Organizer at Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE), where they build coalitions and work with government partners to advance policies supporting trans communities, including  healthcare and housing. Devon describes their hormone journey as a meaningful source of healing as a trans person and survivor. Previously, he served as the 2018–2019 James Marshall Public Policy Fellow with the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, working for the Senate HELP Subcommittee. Devon holds a Ph.D. in Community Psychology from Wichita State University.

• IG: @devojeda & @transequalitynow
• Transequality.org
• Volunteer
• Take Action

Celebrate 10 years of Dem Bois Inc.!

2026 marks ten years of Dem Bois Inc. To honor this milestone, we invite you to join our 10 for 10 campaign by giving $10 a month to help sustain the care, leadership, and visibility that trans men of color deserve.

Your support helps build a future rooted in care, visibility, and possibility.

Donate today!

Donate today to support Transmasc Gender Affirming Grants and Community Wellness Packages for Trans Men of Color!

The  Visibility = Possibility™️ Merch is here! - Not just merch, but a movement! 

Dem Bois Community Voices Facebook Group is a safe, moderated sanctuary where trans men of color can connect authentically, discuss podcast episodes, share powerful experiences, and build support networks. 

Dem Bois YouTube Channel! - @demboisinc - Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else!

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Did you know that there are people in the world that will love you for free? People that will hold space for you with no conditions whatsoever… And that is pretty much the message of this episode of Dem Bois Podcast. Today I sit down with Kalvin Byrd, and we discuss the importance of community, the challenges faced during transition, and the significance of visibility for trans men. Kalvin shares his personal journey, including the struggles of isolation, the importance of brotherhood, and the need for unconditional love in relationships. And, we emphasize the necessity of open dialogue about the realities of transitioning and the support systems that can help individuals navigate their journeys. 

We talk:

09:09 - Navigating relationships during transition

14:52 - Brotherhood and support systems

21:06 - Unconditional love and healthy masculinity

38:54 - The mission of Uncloak

52:04 - The importance of self-care

Click here for transcription!

Episode References:

The Brown Boi Project

Camp Lost Boys

Finding Spiritual Balance and Peace Amongst Obsession with Zyon Aijon

StretchLab

Read more about Kalvin in his bio below:

Kalvin Byrd is the Founder and Executive Director of Uncloak, an uplifting organization dedicated to the health, wellness, and healing of men of trans experience. Since 2021, he has grown Uncloak to a national scale, focusing on connection, empowerment, and suicide prevention by partnering with healthcare providers and community leaders to build safe, affirming spaces. Kalvin’s work is rooted in a deep commitment to disrupting isolation and cultivating brotherhood among trans men.

• IG: _Uncloak_ & kingzz_paradise 
• LinkedIn: kalvinbyrd 
• Website: uncloakfoundation.org

Celebrate 10 years of Dem Bois Inc.!

2026 marks ten years of Dem Bois Inc. To honor this milestone, we invite you to join our 10 for 10 campaign by giving $10 a month to help sustain the care, leadership, and visibility that trans men of color deserve.

Your support helps build a future rooted in care, visibility, and possibility.

Donate today!

Donate today to support Transmasc Gender Affirming Grants and Community Wellness Packages for Trans Men of Color!

The  Visibility = Possibility™️ Merch is here! - Not just merch, but a movement! 

Dem Bois Community Voices Facebook Group is a safe, moderated sanctuary where trans men of color can connect authentically, discuss podcast episodes, share powerful experiences, and build support networks. 

Dem Bois YouTube Channel! - @demboisinc - Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else!

Send us Fan Mail

Visibility equals possibility! You hear it all the time on this show, but now I’m giving you a peak behind the scenes of how that phrase operates at Dem Bois Inc. Today, on Dem Bois Podcast, I sit down with Zyon Aijon, one of our brand collaborators, and we discuss the creative process behind our “visibility equals possibility” merch. Zyon also highlights the importance of feeling safe and celebrated in his new location and his aspirations for community building and social change.

We talk:

03:04 - Zyon's journey and creative freedom

11:46 - The meaning of visibility equals possibility

15:47 - The impact and risk of visibility in the community

20:12 - Future aspirations and community building

Click here for transcription!

Episode References:

Dem Bois Pod Ep 31 - Speaking Truth to Power Leading Up to Knowing Your Worth with Amari Leach

Dem Bois Pod Ep. 37 - Advice for Mental Health and Passion for Social Work with Emilio Perdomo

Dem Bois Pod Ep. 53 - Finding Spiritual Balance and Peace Amongst Obsession with Zyon Aijon

Read more about Zyon in his bio below:

Zyon Lewis is a black trans artist born in Bridgeport, CT and raised between there and the south. He is a Vegan, Artist, Leader, activist and Innovator. He is a music artist, making music under the alias “1000 Percent”. He also produces gaming, lifestyle, creative and motivational content. He has been a digital artist/graphic designer since age 13. Zyon started his medical transition (HRT) August 19th, 2021 and he had top surgery in March of 2022. He continues to live his truth daily, by finding balance and peace in his daily experience.

• Connect with Zyon
• Space nVADRS (eSports Team): https://nvadrs.square.site/ 
• Giftedyoung1 - IG

Celebrate 10 years of Dem Bois Inc.!

2026 marks ten years of Dem Bois Inc. To honor this milestone, we invite you to join our 10 for 10 campaign by giving $10 a month to help sustain the care, leadership, and visibility that trans men of color deserve.

Your support helps build a future rooted in care, visibility, and possibility.

Donate today!

Donate today to support Transmasc Gender Affirming Grants and Community Wellness Packages for Trans Men of Color!

The  Visibility = Possibility™️ Merch is here! - Not just merch, but a movement! 

Dem Bois Community Voices Facebook Group is a safe, moderated sanctuary where trans men of color can connect authentically, discuss podcast episodes, share powerful experiences, and build support networks. 

Dem Bois YouTube Channel! - @demboisinc - Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else!

Send us Fan Mail

Before my transition, I learned about masculinity from those around me. I had an idea in my head about what it meant to be a man - to be tough and take care of my family and be the breadwinner, but I was so wrong. After I transitioned, I had to unlearn what I knew and relearn that masculinity is different for everyone, and there are levels to it. In this episode of Dem Bois Podcast, I answer the questions: 1. what has it been like being seen and treated as a Black man, and 2. how has your definition of masculinity changed or evolved?

I share:
Advice I received pre-transition, from a trans man of color - 5:17
Realizing that my experience would be different - 10:34
What it’s like being seen and treated as a Black man in America - 14:46
My advice to anyone who is nervous about transitioning - 16:47 
What I assumed about masculinity and where the assumptions came from - 18:26
How my definition of masculinity started to evolve - 20:56

 Click here for the transcript!

Are you enjoying the Dem Bois Podcast? Donate today to help support the cost of production and the honorarium we pay our guests for their time. All donations are tax-deductible. Click here!

Celebrate 10 years of Dem Bois Inc.!

2026 marks ten years of Dem Bois Inc. To honor this milestone, we invite you to join our 10 for 10 campaign by giving $10 a month to help sustain the care, leadership, and visibility that trans men of color deserve.

Your support helps build a future rooted in care, visibility, and possibility.

Donate today!

Donate today to support Transmasc Gender Affirming Grants and Community Wellness Packages for Trans Men of Color!

The  Visibility = Possibility™️ Merch is here! - Not just merch, but a movement! 

Dem Bois Community Voices Facebook Group is a safe, moderated sanctuary where trans men of color can connect authentically, discuss podcast episodes, share powerful experiences, and build support networks. 

Dem Bois YouTube Channel! - @demboisinc - Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else!

Send us Fan Mail

Something that is talked about often is the physical transition that trans-men make when we have gender-affirming surgeries. But you never really hear about the mental and emotional transitions we have to make. Or the transitions our families and loved ones have to make with us. Well, in this episode of Dem Bois Podcast, I sit down with Braxton T. Fleming, the founder and CEO of Stealth Bros. and Co and we talk about it. If you take anything from this episode, let it be to just love!

We discuss:
How Braxton manifested becoming a father - 1:14
His transition story - 8:05
His family’s response to his transition - 15:37
The humble beginnings of Stealth Bros. and Co - 27:32
How Braxton creates his social media content - 41:56
And going through post-operation depression - 45:22

Click here for the transcript!

Read more about Braxton in his bio below:

Braxton T. Fleming (he/him) is a Licensed Practical Nurse. He is also the CEO and Founder of Stealth Bros. and Co., a luxury Dopp Kit supply company that provides travel and at-home personal storage for hormone replacement therapy and other medical necessities. We are also changing the industry by making sharps containers more unique, so the people who use them every day don’t feel so hospitalized. He started in 2017 from his room to create a way to become a part of the transgender community and help raise money for his own top surgery. Stealth Bros. and Co. continues to grow and serve the transgender and allied communities. He even offers a support fund for those in the LGBT community in need, and his company is a proud Certified LGBT Business Enterprise of NGLCC. By sharing his experiences, Braxton hopes to inspire other trans people on their journeys and fill a gap in the representation of trans people of color.

• @StealthBrosCo for all social media platforms
• www.StealthBrsCo.com
• @Sire.Brax for my personal platform

Episode References:

Mazzoni Center - Philadelphia
FTM Brotherhood
Point of Pride
Point 5cc
Aydian Dowling

Celebrate 10 years of Dem Bois Inc.!

2026 marks ten years of Dem Bois Inc. To honor this milestone, we invite you to join our 10 for 10 campaign by giving $10 a month to help sustain the care, leadership, and visibility that trans men of color deserve.

Your support helps build a future rooted in care, visibility, and possibility.

Donate today!

Donate today to support Transmasc Gender Affirming Grants and Community Wellness Packages for Trans Men of Color!

The  Visibility = Possibility™️ Merch is here! - Not just merch, but a movement! 

Dem Bois Community Voices Facebook Group is a safe, moderated sanctuary where trans men of color can connect authentically, discuss podcast episodes, share powerful experiences, and build support networks. 

Dem Bois YouTube Channel! - @demboisinc - Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else!

Send us Fan Mail

I was homeless for 2 and a half years. I didn’t have a job or money so I wasn’t eating regularly. I couldn’t wash my body or even comb my hair. All I could do was cry and hope for my life to get better. During that time I was embarrassed, ashamed and overwhelmed with emotion. And in this episode of Dem Bois Podcast, I finally share this story. I talk about what caused me to be homeless and what brought me out of it. Thank you to Chad in San Francisco for this great question. Remember if you have a question, please send it to hello@dembois.org, and it may be answered on a future episode.

Warning: this episode contains emotional content about homelessness and suicide.

I talk about:
My mom’s reaction to me coming out as a lesbian - 5:18
Living in a car with my partner at the time - 12:29
Our suicide pact and the divine intervention that kept us alive - 19:36
Steps we took to become housed - 26:52
And how people are put in our lives to give us small blessings - 30:58

Click here for the transcript!

Resources:

The Trevor Project

If you are thinking about harming yourself get immediate support. Connect to a crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S. It is 100% confidential, and 100% free…

•  www.thetrevorproject.org
• Text ‘START’ to 678-678
• Call at 1-866-488-7386
• IG @trevorproject 

Trans Lifeline

Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis. For the trans community, by the trans community.

• https://translifeline.org/
• Call US (877) 565-8860, CAN (877) 330-6366

Are you enjoying the Dem Bois Podcast? Donate today to help support the cost of production and the honorarium we pay our guests for their time. All donations are tax-deductible. Click here!

Celebrate 10 years of Dem Bois Inc.!

2026 marks ten years of Dem Bois Inc. To honor this milestone, we invite you to join our 10 for 10 campaign by giving $10 a month to help sustain the care, leadership, and visibility that trans men of color deserve.

Your support helps build a future rooted in care, visibility, and possibility.

Donate today!

Donate today to support Transmasc Gender Affirming Grants and Community Wellness Packages for Trans Men of Color!

The  Visibility = Possibility™️ Merch is here! - Not just merch, but a movement! 

Dem Bois Community Voices Facebook Group is a safe, moderated sanctuary where trans men of color can connect authentically, discuss podcast episodes, share powerful experiences, and build support networks. 

Dem Bois YouTube Channel! - @demboisinc - Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else!

Send us Fan Mail

I want this platform to be a space where trans men of color can tell our stories and be heard. Where we can uplift and help one another. So in this first guest episode of Dem Bois Podcast, I sit down with Samir King, a past recipient of the Dem Bois Inc. Gender Affirming Surgery Grant. Samir opens up about his transition, being incarcerated for 10 years, the nonprofit organization he’s working on, and so much more.

We talk about:
Samir’s transition journey - 01:19
How he chose the name Samir - 04:45
His relationship with his son - 06:41
God and meditation - 10:31
Samir’s nonprofit organization Protection Royal Youth - 15:50
Learning to re-adapt to life as a trans-Black man, after being incarcerated - 18:50

Click here for the transcript!

Read Samir’s bio below for more info:

Hello ladies and gentlemen my name is Samir Malcom King. I was born and raised in Brunswick Georgia and I'm the baby of 4 siblings. I'm also a twin of two minutes and I have a son that's 17 years old and just recently got married. I'm currently in my third year of transitioning. This journey that I'm in has made me realize how much my life has value in this 🌎. I've done 10 years in prison and came out a beast. I have 3 small owned businesses so with that being said I hope my smile and my story help you be the best you. LOVE YOU LIKE NO OTHER WILL… FROM MR. KING.

• CEO of protectionroyalyouth.org 
• @protectionroyal on Instagram

Are you enjoying the Dem Bois Podcast? Donate today to help support the cost of production and the honorarium we pay our guests for their time. All donations are tax-deductible. Click here!

Celebrate 10 years of Dem Bois Inc.!

2026 marks ten years of Dem Bois Inc. To honor this milestone, we invite you to join our 10 for 10 campaign by giving $10 a month to help sustain the care, leadership, and visibility that trans men of color deserve.

Your support helps build a future rooted in care, visibility, and possibility.

Donate today!

Donate today to support Transmasc Gender Affirming Grants and Community Wellness Packages for Trans Men of Color!

The  Visibility = Possibility™️ Merch is here! - Not just merch, but a movement! 

Dem Bois Community Voices Facebook Group is a safe, moderated sanctuary where trans men of color can connect authentically, discuss podcast episodes, share powerful experiences, and build support networks. 

Dem Bois YouTube Channel! - @demboisinc - Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else!

Send us Fan Mail

Hey guys! I’m Shawn Aaron and I am the host of Dem Bois Podcast. When I was sixteen I came out to my mom as a lesbian. I identified as a masculine-centered woman and up until that point, I had never met anyone who identified as transgender. It wasn’t until years later, when I hired a body-building trainer, who happened to be a trans man, that the thought even crossed my mind. Meeting him made me really look at myself and question myself, and gravitate toward who I wanted to be. 

In this episode of Dem Bois Podcast, I share more details on my transition journey. I talk about why I transitioned and the steps I took to get here.

I share about:
My humble queer beginnings - 00:16
The body-building journey that led to my transition journey - 02:36
How I started thinking about transitioning - 05:19
How my family reacted to my decision - 06:31
And my physical transition timeline - 07:52

Click here for transcript.

Read more about me in my bio below:

Shawn Aaron is the Founder and Executive Director of Dem Bois Inc. Shawn is a strong believer that trans men of color should have access to gender-affirming care and surgeries regardless of their economical status. Shawn is passionate about addressing intersectionality when it comes to one’s gender identity and access to non-bias healthcare. Shawn identifies as trans-masculine and understands the importance of accessing transition-related care. Shawn served as Co-Executive Director within a QTBIPOC organization that pushed the envelope on how to address the issues of gender within communities of color. Shawn also served as the Fundraising Coordinator where he raised over $300K that helped to advance financial literacy programs for 125 young QTBIPOC leaders. And Shawn helped to fund mental health wellness clinics for QTBIPOC leaders during the pandemic. He is a photographer, and he loves to spend his free time reading books, working out at the gym, designing art using up-cycled bottles, and being a father to his son. 

• LinkedIn @shawn-aaron
• IG @transfit_lifestyle and @demboisinc 
• YouTube Dem Bois Inc

Celebrate 10 years of Dem Bois Inc.!

2026 marks ten years of Dem Bois Inc. To honor this milestone, we invite you to join our 10 for 10 campaign by giving $10 a month to help sustain the care, leadership, and visibility that trans men of color deserve.

Your support helps build a future rooted in care, visibility, and possibility.

Donate today!

Donate today to support Transmasc Gender Affirming Grants and Community Wellness Packages for Trans Men of Color!

The  Visibility = Possibility™️ Merch is here! - Not just merch, but a movement! 

Dem Bois Community Voices Facebook Group is a safe, moderated sanctuary where trans men of color can connect authentically, discuss podcast episodes, share powerful experiences, and build support networks. 

Dem Bois YouTube Channel! - @demboisinc - Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else!

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Dem Bois Podcast, my guest Maxx and I discuss his journey of healing and learning, identity, and the complexities of navigating race and gender in various spaces. Maxx shares personal experiences with choosing their name, living up to societal expectations, going to the military, and the impact of grief after losing their mom. We emphasize the importance of support systems, friendships, and the need for research and self-awareness in today's fast-paced world. 

We talk:

05:51 - Navigating race and gender in professional spaces

14:29 - Military experience and gender identity

26:39 - Grief and loss of a parent

38:45 - Advice on healing and moving forward

50:53 - Research and critical thinking in the digital age

Click here for transcription!

Episode References:

Dr. Joy DeGruy 

Dem Bois Podcast Ep #85 Exploring Nonbinary Identity and Queer Masculinity with Kelz

Read more about Maxx in his bio below:

I'm from Charleston SC. I love food. I’m a chef on a break. I lost my mom about 2 years ago so coping and dealing with that is really all I have been focusing on. I have a wife and a 10 year old daughter and a 5 year old son. My son is a dog. Learning and healing is the journey I’m on.

• Facebook - Statria Maxwell

Celebrate 10 years of Dem Bois Inc.!

2026 marks ten years of Dem Bois Inc. To honor this milestone, we invite you to join our 10 for 10 campaign by giving $10 a month to help sustain the care, leadership, and visibility that trans men of color deserve.

Your support helps build a future rooted in care, visibility, and possibility.

Donate today!

Donate today to support Transmasc Gender Affirming Grants and Community Wellness Packages for Trans Men of Color!

The  Visibility = Possibility™️ Merch is here! - Not just merch, but a movement! 

Dem Bois Community Voices Facebook Group is a safe, moderated sanctuary where trans men of color can connect authentically, discuss podcast episodes, share powerful experiences, and build support networks. 

Dem Bois YouTube Channel! - @demboisinc - Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else!

Send us Fan Mail

I’ve said it once on this podcast and I will say it again: you don’t have to have surgery to be a trans man! You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. You just have to feel comfortable in your body and do what is best for you! And that is what this episode of Dem Bois Podcast is all about. Today I sit down with Demarco Lord, and he shares his journey as an intersex male of trans experience and discusses the challenges faced by the Black LGBTQ+ community in the South. We discuss the need for mental health support and resources for marginalized individuals and the importance of resilience and love in moving forward.

We talk:

11:50 - Intersex identity and personal experiences

21:01 - Challenges and triumphs in the south

40:11 - Creating inclusive spaces in mental health

49:13 - Navigating social media and mental health

59:59 - Building infrastructure for trans rights

Click here for transcription!

Episode References:

Dunwoody Health Center 

Read more about Demarco in his bio below:

ADVOCATES OF THE SOUTH INC. , was founded by a intersex male of Trans experience, through the lived experiences with dealing with the many disparities in the South, lack of resources and oppression in black communities ADVOCATES OF THE SOUTH INC. was born.

A message from the Founder: DeMarco T Lord

When we say all, Black lives matter, when we say no one left behind, it begins to bring a true Love and an atmosphere that we can all thrive in.

• advocatesofthesouth.com 
• facebook.com/Advocatesofhesouthinc

Celebrate 10 years of Dem Bois Inc.!

2026 marks ten years of Dem Bois Inc. To honor this milestone, we invite you to join our 10 for 10 campaign by giving $10 a month to help sustain the care, leadership, and visibility that trans men of color deserve.

Your support helps build a future rooted in care, visibility, and possibility.

Donate today!

Donate today to support Transmasc Gender Affirming Grants and Community Wellness Packages for Trans Men of Color!

The  Visibility = Possibility™️ Merch is here! - Not just merch, but a movement! 

Dem Bois Community Voices Facebook Group is a safe, moderated sanctuary where trans men of color can connect authentically, discuss podcast episodes, share powerful experiences, and build support networks. 

Dem Bois YouTube Channel! - @demboisinc - Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else!