In this interview, Kamau Bell opens by giving flowers to Dominique Morgan for being an unapologetic Black trans woman educator and advocate on social media. Morgan explains her approach: showing people how to learn without "looking like a doggone fool" and expanding themselves without burdening others. She emphasizes that relationships are "disruptors" necessary for meaningful engagement, comparing asking questions without established connection to asking a neighbor you've never spoken to for sugar.

 

Morgan discusses her authentic social media presence (bonnet sometimes on, sometimes off) as intentional resistance to pressures on Black trans women to appear a certain way, which has built genuine community specifically with Black women. She previously worked as CEO of Black and Pink, the largest prison abolitionist organization centering LGBTQ+ incarcerated individuals.

 

Morgan recounts her incarceration from ages 18-27, including 18 months in solitary confinement, six months on death row due to overcrowding, and how this experience, combined with her parents' deaths before she turned 27, paradoxically prepared her for her 2020 transition. She shares meeting John Lotter (killer of Brandon Teena) in solitary, later receiving thanks from him through her Black and Pink work, and dedicating a healing room to Brandon Teena, illustrating her philosophy that "no one should be known by the worst thing they've ever done".

 

Morgan details her 2024-2025 legal case: after being let go from Okra Project in August 2022, she was indicted in October 2024, spent two years fighting charges related to allegedly untracked bail support funds, and ultimately chose to serve 30 days on Rikers starting April 2025 rather than continue an exhausting battle where her story risked becoming politicized, taking her power back while gaining clarity on her purpose.

 

She distinguishes empathy from radical compassion learned through Stanford's program, which defines compassion as "bearing witness" without requiring immediate action. This has informed her approach to current events, including the killing of Nolan Wells and systemic oppression.

 

Morgan emphasizes the need to see Black trans women as individuals, not monoliths, noting that transition doesn't automatically mature someone emotionally: "Estrogen doesn't make you have... Showtime synergy."

 

Follow Dominique Morgan on Substack at https://thedominiquemorgan.substack.com/ 

 

Donate to Black and Pink at blackandpink.org, The Maryland Safe Haven (Formerly Baltimore Safe Haven) at baltimoresafehaven.org, and Sister Song at sistersong.net.

 

Watch The Okra Project's response to the legal situation mentioned in the show at https://youtu.be/0dsOx6pfcA8?si=W1MOGGFjw3ZMYa6h and read the Them.us article at https://www.them.us/story/okra-project-nonprofit-video-dominique-morgan-allegations?shem=aimgspe . 

 

Check out Mahogany Mommies and check out their shirts at mahoganymommies.com. Use code WKB for a discount.

 

Buy the 2027 We Gather calendar by artist Jen Bloomer that features Kamau at radicistudios.com. Use WKamauBell10 to get 10% off.

 

Who's With Me is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Chris Dowd. Distributed by Pushkin Industries.

In this interview, Kamau Bell opens by giving flowers to Dominique Morgan for being an unapologetic Black trans woman educator and advocate on social media. Morgan explains her approach: showing people how to learn without "looking like a doggone fool" and expanding themselves without burdening others. She emphasizes that relationships are "disruptors" necessary for meaningful engagement, comparing asking questions without established connection to asking a neighbor you've never spoken to for sugar.
&nbsp;
Morgan discusses her authentic social media presence (bonnet sometimes on, sometimes off) as intentional resistance to pressures on Black trans women to appear a certain way, which has built genuine community specifically with Black women. She previously worked as CEO of Black and Pink, the largest prison abolitionist organization centering LGBTQ+ incarcerated individuals.
&nbsp;
Morgan recounts her incarceration from ages 18-27, including 18 months in solitary confinement, six months on death row due to overcrowding, and how this experience, combined with her parents' deaths before she turned 27, paradoxically prepared her for her 2020 transition. She shares meeting John Lotter (killer of Brandon Teena) in solitary, later receiving thanks from him through her Black and Pink work, and dedicating a healing room to Brandon Teena, illustrating her philosophy that "no one should be known by the worst thing they've ever done".
&nbsp;
Morgan details her 2024-2025 legal case: after being let go from Okra Project in August 2022, she was indicted in October 2024, spent two years fighting charges related to allegedly untracked bail support funds, and ultimately chose to serve 30 days on Rikers starting April 2025 rather than continue an exhausting battle where her story risked becoming politicized, taking her power back while gaining clarity on her purpose.
&nbsp;
She distinguishes empathy from radical compassion learned through Stanford's program, which defines compassion as "bearing witness" without requiring immediate action. This has informed her approach to current events, including the killing of Nolan Wells and systemic oppression.
&nbsp;
Morgan emphasizes the need to see Black trans women as individuals, not monoliths, noting that transition doesn't automatically mature someone emotionally: "Estrogen doesn't make you have... Showtime synergy."
&nbsp;
Follow Dominique Morgan on Substack at <a href="https://thedominiquemorgan.substack.com/">https://thedominiquemorgan.substack.com/</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Donate to Black and Pink at <a href="http://blackandpink.org">blackandpink.org</a>, The Maryland Safe Haven (Formerly Baltimore Safe Haven) at <a href="http://baltimoresafehaven.org">baltimoresafehaven.org</a>, and Sister Song at <a href="http://sistersong.net">sistersong.net</a>.
&nbsp;
Watch The Okra Project's response to the legal situation mentioned in the show at <a href="https://youtu.be/0dsOx6pfcA8?si=W1MOGGFjw3ZMYa6h">https://youtu.be/0dsOx6pfcA8?si=W1MOGGFjw3ZMYa6h</a> and read the Them.us article at <a href="https://www.them.us/story/okra-project-nonprofit-video-dominique-morgan-allegations?shem=aimgspe">https://www.them.us/story/okra-project-nonprofit-video-dominique-morgan-allegations?shem=aimgspe</a> .&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Check out Mahogany Mommies and check out their shirts at <a href="http://mahoganymommies.com">mahoganymommies.com</a>. Use code WKB for a discount.
&nbsp;
Buy the 2027 We Gather calendar by artist Jen Bloomer that features Kamau at <a href="http://radicistudios.com">radicistudios.com</a>. Use WKamauBell10 to get 10% off.
&nbsp;
Who's With Me is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Chris Dowd. Distributed by Pushkin Industries.

Kamau Bell is known for embracing uncomfortable conversations that acknowledge differences, confront embarrassment, and change people’s perspectives. Throughout his career, Kamau has talked with everyone from KKK members to Oprah Winfrey to strangers on the streets. Each time, Kamau fills these conversations with humor, heart, and intellect, showing that a simple conversation can lead to surprising revelations and spark change, one person at a time.

Kamau brings all that and more to his new weekly podcast, Who’s With Me? Inspired by Kamau’s popular Substack newsletter of the same name, Who’s With Me? is more than just a simple question. It is an invitation to connect, a call to action, and a reassuring pat on the shoulder in these increasingly hectic times. 

In every episode, Kamau addresses what has caught his attention in the current cultural or political landscape. He also sits down with someone he admires deeply—a time for Kamau to give them their flowers, ask his most burning questions, and invite his guest to give him and his audience homework on how to make the world a better place. Kamau will talk to celebrities, his fellow comedians, his fellow Oaklanders, activists, and sometimes he will talk to someone like Daveed Diggs, who is all of that in one body. So… who’s with Kamau? New episodes every Wednesday. 

Kamau Bell is known for embracing uncomfortable conversations that acknowledge differences, confront embarrassment, and change people&rsquo;s perspectives. Throughout his career, Kamau has talked with everyone from KKK members to Oprah Winfrey to strangers on the streets. Each time, Kamau fills these conversations with humor, heart, and intellect, showing that a simple conversation can lead to surprising revelations and spark change, one person at a time.
Kamau brings all that and more to his new weekly podcast,&nbsp;Who&rsquo;s With Me? Inspired by Kamau&rsquo;s popular Substack newsletter of the same name, Who&rsquo;s With Me? is more than just a simple question. It is an invitation to connect, a call to action, and a reassuring pat on the shoulder in these increasingly hectic times.&nbsp;
In every episode, Kamau addresses what has caught his attention in the current cultural or political landscape. He also sits down with someone he admires deeply&mdash;a time for Kamau to give them their flowers, ask his most burning questions, and invite his guest to give him and his audience homework on how to make the world a better place. Kamau will talk to celebrities, his fellow comedians, his fellow Oaklanders, activists, and sometimes he will talk to someone like Daveed Diggs, who is all of that in one body. So&hellip; who&rsquo;s with Kamau? New episodes every Wednesday.&nbsp;

Who's with Me? with W. Kamau Bell

Who’s With Me? is more than just a simple question. It is an invitation to connect, a call to action, and a reassuring pat on the shoulder in these increasingly hectic times. Every Wednesday, stand-up comedian W. Kamau Bell sits down with someone he admires deeply to give them their flowers, ask his most burning questions, and invite his guest to give him and his audience homework on how to make the world a better place.

W. Kamau Bell is a Peabody Award winner, 4X Emmy Award winner, documentary filmmaker, Celebrity Jeopardy! champion, Official Ambassador of the band Fishbone, self-proclaimed #1 Bruce Lee Expert (non-Asian division), part-time activist, and full-time family man. Kamau is also known for his CNN docuseries United Shades of America, his four-part docuseries We Need To Talk About Cosby, and for scrawling “HAHA!” over his enemies’ faces on his Instagram account.

Who&rsquo;s With Me? is more than just a simple question. It is an invitation to connect, a call to action, and a reassuring pat on the shoulder in these increasingly hectic times. Every Wednesday, stand-up comedian W. Kamau Bell sits down with someone he admires deeply to give them their flowers, ask his most burning questions, and invite his guest to give him and his audience homework on how to make the world a better place.
W. Kamau Bell is a Peabody Award winner, 4X Emmy Award winner, documentary filmmaker, Celebrity Jeopardy! champion, Official Ambassador of the band Fishbone, self-proclaimed #1 Bruce Lee Expert (non-Asian division), part-time activist, and full-time family man. Kamau is also known for his CNN docuseries United Shades of America, his four-part docuseries We Need To Talk About Cosby, and for scrawling &ldquo;HAHA!&rdquo; over his enemies&rsquo; faces on his Instagram account.

Dominique Morgan on Black Trans Womanhood

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3fee25a2-9d45-4c2a-b55e-b4f80015a3ea/transcript