Laverne Cox joins HIGHKEY! to talk trans erasure, identity, and surviving Hollywood in 2025. She shares how the cancellation of Clean Slate affected her personally and financially, and explains why being palatable to white audiences didn’t protect her. Laverne breaks down her evolving stance on respectability politics and the growing divestment from trans stories. She also revisits a recent speech where she called out Gavin Newsom by name—and why she’s done playing nice. A raw and thoughtful conversation about power, creativity, and what it takes to keep going.

If you’re HIGHKEY! vibing with us, come kick it on Patreon! We’re dropping bonus content, behind-the-scenes tea, exclusive group hangs — basically, the HighKiki.

www.patreon.com/HIGHKEY

 

Watch HIGHKEY! on YouTube at youtube.com/@highkeyhere

Follow along on socials @highkeyhere

 

HIGHKEY! is a production of iHeartPodcasts, as part of the Outspoken network. The show is created and executive produced by Ben O’Keefe, Ryan Mitchell, Yvie Oddly, and Spoke Media.

Laverne Cox joins HIGHKEY! to talk trans erasure, identity, and surviving Hollywood in 2025. She shares how the cancellation of Clean Slate affected her personally and financially, and explains why being palatable to white audiences didn&rsquo;t protect her. Laverne breaks down her evolving stance on respectability politics and the growing divestment from trans stories. She also revisits a recent speech where she called out Gavin Newsom by name&mdash;and why she&rsquo;s done playing nice. A raw and thoughtful conversation about power, creativity, and what it takes to keep going.
If you&rsquo;re HIGHKEY! vibing with us, come kick it on Patreon! We&rsquo;re dropping bonus content, behind-the-scenes tea, exclusive group hangs &mdash; basically, the HighKiki.
www.patreon.com/HIGHKEY
&nbsp;
Watch&nbsp;HIGHKEY! on YouTube at <a href="http://youtube.com/@highkeyhere">youtube.com/@highkeyhere</a>
Follow along on socials @highkeyhere
&nbsp;
HIGHKEY! is a production of iHeartPodcasts, as part of the Outspoken network. The show is created and executive produced by Ben O&rsquo;Keefe, Ryan Mitchell, Yvie Oddly, and Spoke Media.

RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Yvie Oddly and culture critic Ryan Mitchell host HIGHKEY! — a boldly queer LGBTQ+ podcast where pop culture, chaos, and surprisingly real conversations collide.

It’s like being a fly on the wall for the most unhinged, hilarious, and heartfelt side convo at the party — with past guests like Laverne Cox, Rico Nasty, Bob the Drag Queen, and Lena Waithe, and more queer icons on the way.

Welcome to the party — BYOB, pull up a chair, and settle in because this one’s just getting started.

RuPaul&rsquo;s Drag Race winner Yvie Oddly and culture critic Ryan Mitchell host HIGHKEY! &mdash; a boldly queer LGBTQ+ podcast where pop culture, chaos, and surprisingly real conversations collide.
It&rsquo;s like being a fly on the wall for the most unhinged, hilarious, and heartfelt side convo at the party &mdash; with past guests like Laverne Cox, Rico Nasty, Bob the Drag Queen, and Lena Waithe, and more queer icons on the way.
Welcome to the party &mdash; BYOB, pull up a chair, and settle in because this one&rsquo;s just getting started.

HIGHKEY! With Yvie Oddly and Ryan Mitchell

Laverne Cox: “Respectability Politics Is Not It. Period.”

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f526a4db-23e2-4cb6-9dcb-b2f4002016a5/transcript