Shownotes
Despite the controversies, Arielle credits Starbucks for supporting their gender transition benefits-wise. A bittersweet chapter in their life that now fuels their passionate advocacy in transgender and queer communities. Arielle's journey from brewing lattes to consulting and advocacy isn't just a career shift; it's about creating inclusive spaces in coffee leadership.
TL;DL
Support for Trans Employees - Despite the criticisms of Starbucks, Arielle acknowledges the company's role in providing the employee benefits that supported their gender transition, highlighting a complex relationship with the coffee giant.
Inclusion in the Coffee Industry - The need for real inclusion, not just superficial diversity in the coffee industry, particularly in leadership roles, is emphasized, alongside the call for representation for marginalized groups, such as the Arab and queer communities.
Barriers in Specialty Coffee - Critique of the Specialty Coffee Association for the exclusivity and high costs of participating in its events, which can be prohibitive to individuals from marginalized groups including hourly baristas and those outside of major coffee hubs.
Controversial Takes on Coffee - Engaging in various "hot takes" regarding coffee culture, including the quality of Asian coffees, the complacency of the industry towards commodity-grade coffee, and challenging the narrow definition of what constitutes specialty coffee.
Creating Opportunities and Resources - Arielle suggests practical ideas like providing scholarships for baristas to attend industry events and suggests corporations pay higher prices to subsidize these initiatives.
Advocacy and Identity: "Like, I've always been someone that's pretty outspoken about my identity. It has always been someone who wants to use my experiences to help educate people."— Arielle Rebekah
Memorable Moments
00:00 Coffee community extends beyond product, connecting people.
06:52 Conflicted feelings about Starbucks and company values.
14:49 Colonial coffee trade, global history, diversity inclusion.
19:50 Inspirational podcaster discusses traversing diverse backgrounds.
26:12 Struggle with identity as a trans person.
36:38 Committing to an idea without much thought.
44:52 Hopeful for change, but money controls access.
59:07 Transitioning from freelance to passion projects and advocacy.
01:09:23 They are comfortable being open about themselves.
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2024 Best Podcast Nominations
*Best DIY Podcast Finalist - The Ambies, Awards For Excellence in Audio - The Podcast Academy
*Best Coffee Podcast Finalist - The Sprudgie Awards, Honoring The Very Best in Coffee - Sprudge, The Worldwide Leader In Coffee News
Copyright 2024 Elena Mahmood
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Transcripts
It's great to have you on the show.
Arielle Rebekah [:I'm excited to be here.
Elena [:I'm excited to get to know you and talk to you because, like, what you're doing is pretty awesome, honestly.
Arielle Rebekah [:Thank you. I'm curious. I I wear so many hats. I'm curious what it is you know about me.
Elena [:I'm not gonna presume I know anything about you. I do I did like a little bit of research, but for the most part, like, what I love about this show is it just kinda gives you the opportunity to kinda show yourself on your own.
Arielle Rebekah [:Totally.
Elena [:So if you want to, it's like you can take the floor and, like, start, like, just trying to introduce yourself and, like, what it is that got you into coffee and stuff.
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. Totally. So I my name's Ariel. I use they/them pronouns. I live in Chicago. I have been in coffee for over 9 years, like, nine and a half years. I got into coffee in 2015, because when I was 18 years old, I was sent to a, therapeutic boarding school, which is part of the troubled teen industry. And these programs are often sort of like, they're descended from cults, and they are often very, like, abusive and use a lot of the same tactics as conversion therapy programs where their whole tactic is, like, breaking you down, building you back up into the mold of what they want you to be.
Arielle Rebekah [:And this was, not something I realized going into it, but this was where I first came out as trans Yeah. On October 10, 2013. And, they spent the next year and a half basically trying to make me not trans, using very similar tactics to conversion therapy. And so when I got out of that program, I, my only thought, my only, goal was finding an environment that would support me.
Elena [:Yeah.
Arielle Rebekah [:Finding a safe environment to transition. And I also knew that I needed a job when I got out because I was almost 20 when I graduated high school from there.
Elena [:Mhmm.
Arielle Rebekah [:And so I literally sat down at my computer and Googled trans friendly employers, and I found Starbucks and Trader Joe's.
Elena [:Yeah.
Arielle Rebekah [:And so I applied to both of them. Starbucks called me back and I ended up being there for 6 years. And during that time, getting involved with Clittercut, getting involved with the competition scene, starting to go to trade shows, starting to meet more coffee people. And so like, through Starbucks? Through I mean, no. Through I opened the Starbucks Roasteries. And so once I was there, like, I started to get more get to know more specialty coffee people because there were specialty coffee folks that worked there. So that was sort of how I got introduced to trade shows. But I just, like I got really into just learning about coffee and, like, very much nerding out about it through Starbucks Yeah.
Arielle Rebekah [:And their coffee master program. And, yeah, like, started to just check out trade shows, get to know some people. Yeah. And yeah. I mean, nine and a half years later, here I am.
Elena [:That's pretty cool, though. Like, thanks for sharing that because I know that's pretty private.
Arielle Rebekah [:I am spoken at length about it.
Elena [:Oh, shit. Okay. Podcast. Oh, okay. Well then, that's really interesting though. I think, man, that you must come from, like, a definitely a different perspective with coffee and and what you're trying to do with it then.
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. I see. So, I mean, I I think that's something that sort of extends across extends beyond, like, the actual product that we sell is this sort of understanding that the coffee industry has this community aspect to it where there are just so many wonderful humans, and we sort of, like we just love sharing space. We love, like, traveling and see each other at events and shows. And so I think in that regard, I feel very similarly about coffee as a lot of other people where, you know, it's this thing that most of us accidentally wander into Yeah. And end up, you you know, coming for the bean. Maybe we get really into it, maybe we don't, but mostly staying for the people that we meet. I'm in Chicago, so we're getting an expo in a couple of weeks, which I'm super amped about.
Elena [:That is fun.
Arielle Rebekah [:See all my friends on my home turf. But I think what's different is, like, I do for me, getting into coffee was a thing that very much, like, saved my life Yeah. Because it was some of the darkest days of my life coming out of that school. And I have a lot of controversial thoughts about Starbucks at this point.
Elena [:Well, that's great because I am curious. Because here's the thing. I also worked for Starbucks, but I was only a barista. I was there for, like, two and a half years. And then I obviously left and started doing other stuff. But, like, I guess, like, for me, I have talked to so many different people from the industry at this point. But, like, the one thing that I would love to hear is the the dirt or the tea or the the shit on the Starbucks roastery session or, like, in general? Just because, like, everybody knows. It's it's, like, common knowledge at this point that Starbucks' coffee is shite.
Elena [:It is not shite. It is burnt to a crisp. I obviously don't know anything about sourcing for Starbucks or anything, but, like, I wanted to know
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah.
Elena [:More from, like, that perspective as well. Because we're obviously gonna get go more into, like, your story. But, like, at least for that part, like, what was your journey through that?
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. I mean, I loved working for Starbucks until I didn't. Working for the roasteries definitely killed my passion. It's kind of like working for Disney World where the whole thing is you have to craft a legendary experience every time and deal with a smile and, very much, I crushed my soul and crushed my passion for coffee for a while. And besides that, you know, like, I mean, there was, like, black mold under the counters. There was, like yeah. This, like, came out years ago, but there's a it was, like, nasty. Like, the ice bin, like, almost never got cleaned.
Arielle Rebekah [:Oh, true. Yeah. I don't know how much of this I can say in the show without getting the seed for slander, but, it was pretty nasty. But yeah. I mean, I think I mean, my main qualms at Starbucks at this point are, like, they are on the BDS list, and I am an anti Zionist Jewish person. And, also, they are union busters, and both of those are so starkly out of alignment with the progressive company that they advertise themselves to be that it feels very, very at odds with the public image they try to craft for themselves as well as the reasons that I got involved with the company in the first place because I do owe a debt of gratitude for, you know, all the benefits that they offer that allowed me to I mean, that paid for my transition, that, you know, paid for my surgery, that paid for my hormones and laser and electrolysis and all of those things, and that was exactly what I needed when I needed it. And now I feel, so just conflicted, because, like, I I am still grateful for everything that I was able to do because I was there and all the opportunities I got through the company and feeling very, like, duped and lied to, which I guess is what big capital does. Right? Like, big capital will never be aligned with progressive values because those capitalism and progressive values are directly at odds with each
Elena [:other. I was gonna say, I think that, like, I don't know if you were part of it. I remember distinctly, like, experiencing, like, almost like a shift in what Starbucks used to be versus what it was starting to become versus what it is now. I feel like it's gone through so many different phases that, like, I have I wasn't there for a long time. Like, I was there circa 2014. Sure. I was there for, like, 2016, 2017. And it was it was it was like I was on my exit out, and I was starting to notice, like, all the changes.
Elena [:And then all the people that I used to work with started vocalizing all these changes. Yeah. So it's like, I I I also am super anti Starbucks for, like, my own personal reasons and then obviously for, like, political reasons as well. But so after Starbucks, what was the direction you went then?
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. So that kinda takes us to where I am now. Yeah. So I hit this interesting point in 2020 where they give Starbucks gave us the option to be furloughed but keep our insurance. And so I took it and spent the year just kinda figure out what came next. But also April 2021, I had bottom surgery, and I was still because of the, like, early pandemic Starbucks policies, I was still accessing their health care even though I hadn't worked there for, like, over a year.
Elena [:Yeah.
Arielle Rebekah [:And so right before that, I reached out to my old, supervisor from my internship in college, who I worked worked with on staff Mhmm. At GLAAD for a while and was like, hey. You know, I'm applying for this job at the Trevor Project. Can I put you down as a reference? And she was like, I'll do you one better. I can offer you a consulting position.
Elena [:Oh, shit.
Arielle Rebekah [:At Transgender Law Center. And so I ended up consulting with that company right before having bottom surgery. And then right after that, she offered to bring me on a staff for a temporary year and a half contract. But I've I've been experiencing this I was experiencing this tension
Elena [:for so
Arielle Rebekah [:many years where every time I would, like, cut down on the amount of time I was spending in coffee and go more towards, like, queer and trans advocacy roles. I would really miss working in coffee and get to spend with coffee people. Every time I would, pivot towards coffee, I would feel this, you know, need to be in more more involved with advocacy. And so, you know, we kept was experiencing this tension for a number of years. And so as this year and a half contract was coming to a close and I was thinking about what came next. I was like, okay. I really wanna figure out a way to maintain my advocacy work and keep working in coffee. And so I started to just kinda put fuelers out there with various, like, companies that I build connections with, about, you know, doing trans workplace trainings, about doing some project management event planning.
Arielle Rebekah [:And I feel like the world just heard me. Mhmm. And so once a year and a half contract came to an end, I was, like I had a contract role doing, support groups for trans youth and their families. I had I pivoted back to contract with Transgender Law Center, which now a year and a half later, I'm still doing. I had built up so many connections with Glittercat and through doing events with, like, Brinchillio and a couple other companies that I ended up, like, contracting with the Barista League. Damn. All those damn connections. Summer.
Elena [:You're out here really pulling your connections, you said. Yeah. This is this
Arielle Rebekah [:is now. With, Cafe Cafe, which is based in Kansas City, a Vietnamese coffee shop, and, like, did some training did a workplace training for Akaya, did some trainings for, nonprofit in Seattle. Like, really just put all of my feelers out there and the world paid it back in dividends. And so, I I've very much achieved now what I've been dreaming of for years, which is this workflow that sort of ebbs and flows between, like, coffee contracts and queer advocacy and very much feel like I'm getting my fill in
Elena [:the I guess, like, I know that, like, a lot of guests before said for a lot of their, like, hot takes, like the need for diversity. And I know that's like the realm that you obviously are thriving in. How do you view the diversity within the coffee industry now? Like, obviously, you've seen it obviously change over time since you've been in the world of coffee In N Out for, like, a very long time?
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. My hot take is we don't need more diversity. We we knew we need more inclusion. Coffee is an extremely diverse industry. Yeah. As far as baristas go. You know, as far as people entering the coffee industry is a pretty extremely diverse industry. What, what needs to change is leadership opportunities for those folks who hold Yep.
Arielle Rebekah [:Who are not white cis people. What needs to change is increasing safety and access to resources, and opportunities for those people. You know? It's not that we don't have an extremely diverse industry. It's that those with the most power want to maintain that power and are not invested in creating opportunities for folks like us. Yeah.
Elena [:I think that also comes down to, like, the idea that the coffee industry was already, like, a colonial product.
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. At least the US coffee industry, really. Not, like, coffee farmers, but, Yeah.
Elena [:I mean, like, a lot of coffee got spread through a lot of colonial countries, like, basically stealing the product from the the homegrown countries. And then they're like, I'm gonna grow it myself, and then I'm gonna yeah. Lots of history on the podcast in general from different sides and different regions too. Like, it's really interesting to hear, like, somebody from Honduras, someone from Ecuador coming and, like, talking about, like, the a But no. I really like that because, it's like it's like a subtle switch in having inclusion versus just diversity because obviously being a queer, Arab American, like like there's somebody on who will come on the show who is also Arab and queer. And I was just like, wow. I can't find us anywhere. I'm like, I don't know any Arab people in the industry, let alone, like, people who obviously are on the spectrum in some sense.
Elena [:And it's like so I know that, like, what I was really interested to hear more on too was like, I wanna say it right. It's trans and caffeinated.
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah.
Elena [:Awesome. I I don't I do wanna hear a lot more about that too.
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. So, I mean, Transcend Kaffinate is basically just my business name. Right? Like, it it is it has taken a lot of shapes over the years. It started as a personal blog in 20 oh my god. What year is that? 2019. It started as a personal blog. The reason very much being is because I had pivoted back to fully being in the coffee industry for a number of years and was feeling unfulfilled and, like, I needed to do more advocacy work.
Elena [:Yeah.
Arielle Rebekah [:And so I just, you know, started putting my story online on my website. And I I mean, Transincaffeinated was a very impulsively named project. I was just like, what do I wanna call this? And it just became Transincaffeinated. It was like, oh, and insert your URL, and I just that was what it was, but it just become my moniker. And so it started as a personal vlog. When 2020 hit, I was kind of, like, burnt out with writing, and so I started doing podcasting, and also, you know, felt the need to share other people's stories other than mine because, like, I am a white trans woman who grew up with money. I have a lot of privilege. Like, you know, I I I don't represent all trans people nor do I ever want to pretend to.
Arielle Rebekah [:And so I felt the need to have a platform where I felt like I could represent other people's stories as well, which is where the podcast was born out of. Mhmm. And then as time went on, I started thinking about, like, doing more consulting work. And so I incorporated Trends and Caffeinated as a, s corporation Mhmm. Sort of like an extension of an LLC with more protections. And it sort of just became, like, my brand name. So it it is a blog and a podcast and now my consulting company and so much more. And it's just a brand under which I do all of my work.
Arielle Rebekah [:And so sort of the the because I wear a lot of hats, it's hard to really capture what Trans and Caffeinated does, but how I usually frame it is I offer a range of communications and advocacy services aimed at the liberation of all transgender people, and that sort of encompasses, like, the event planning I do that is aimed at, like, supporting and uplifting marginalized communities and increasing access to coffee people and people outside of the coffee industry. My cat is running around. I don't know if you can hear me the background.
Elena [:Little bit. Little scary.
Arielle Rebekah [:Just a little zoomy. Just a little zoomy. You know, that's, the project management and work that I do with Transgender Law Center is very much aimed at helping journalists tell fuller and we're humanizing stories about transgender people, and I do that through a series of, resources that I've created called the journalist resource series, which I I cowrote alongside a number of colleagues at TLC.
Elena [:That's fucking dope.
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. And through a series of webinars, I just got back from speaking at South by South Southwest and, creating a change and also gonna be speaking at a couple more conferences this year about that. And so so really, it is like a range of services amounting to just all of the things that I have learned to do over the years, whether that's event planning or copy or writing, project management, communications. Like, I just kind of use the, brand name of Transincaffeinated to do all sorts of Yeah. Cool projects that I feel like working on.
Elena [:That's really fucking cool. Like, you dropped a lot of awesome tidbits, honestly, that, like honestly, like, you're really inspirational, and I feel like you probably have heard that before considering, like, like, you do this and, like, travel. I love the fact that, like I think that you're the first person that's also a podcaster on the show, and I honestly wanted to hear about, like, your experience. Like, obviously, like, I am a huge person. Like, as soon as you were talking about, like, loving to be, like, giving a platform for people to speak their their stories, like, that's always been something resonated with me. And, like, I love when people can really just kinda thrive and be authentic in their self and their stories and just come on the show and just kinda, like, rip it. And I'm just like, I'm here just to buy an accessory. But I honestly just like, how how has that been, like, kinda, like, traversing the podcasting world and, like, obviously meeting a bunch of different people from so many different backgrounds?
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. I I loved it. I loved interviewing people specifically. I think, I mean, as you probably know, like, sponsorship is hard. It's a lot of work. It doesn't really pay anything. Like, it is I mean, unless you have sponsorship passion project that I was funding out of my own pocket. Mhmm.
Arielle Rebekah [:And so for me, I love the act of interviewing people. Yeah. I love being able to give people a platform, and I just never really put the energy into, like, getting sponsors or, which I could have, and I definitely can if I ever feel like revisiting it. But the the part that has always appealed to me is telling peep helping people tell their stories, which at this point now, how I do that is through, you know, putting together panels at different workshop or at different conferences rather, and, like, moderating those and creating webinars and all the kind of work that I'm doing for TLC. That is my avenue for helping people share their stories now. That means
Elena [:that I huge platform too.
Arielle Rebekah [:What was that?
Elena [:I'm like, that is also a huge platform for them as well.
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. Exactly. But yeah, I really love that aspect of it. I didn't love, you know, how much my time and resources is sucked up. Yeah. Yeah.
Elena [:It's definitely like a very interesting journey going through podcasting because, like, I remember when I first started, and it it feeling like really fucking awkward. Like, I'm one of those people that I fucking hate hearing my own voice. Then just like learning the navigation of, like, conversational flow, you know, like, you kind of do kind of pick that up over time when you do podcast, but just in general, like, having to be in a state of feeling out somebody's energy and seeing what someone's willing to, like, talk about and not talk about. And, like, obviously, like, I always love when people have the opportunity to just come on and just say whatever the fuck they want because that's the whole point of what I wanted. But it it's been an interesting, like, world to navigate, and especially in the world of coffee. I I love the fact that this podcast has kind of created a trend of just kinda saying shit, like, off the wall, like, about the coffee world.
Arielle Rebekah [:Sure.
Elena [:And, like, I always encourage people to kinda just be kinda like free for all for whatever they wanna do. I'm never gonna censor you and, like, invalidate your experiences.
Arielle Rebekah [:I appreciate that.
Elena [:That's a kitty. So at this point, like, you went through Starbucks, you had a fort, like, experience eventually after the fact. How has like the journey been like being a very outward and like pro trans voice in the coffee world been working for you? I know that, like, we had just had talked about, like, it being mostly white and cis male dominated. I know that, like, a lot of the front of the house, like, barista is a lot more diverse, like you said, rather than just inclusive. So I guess, like, I'm curious to, like, now like, you've you've obviously kind of gone to and fro from just coffee and doing a lot more, like, political advocating and or, like, just, like, advocation in general. So I'm, like, curious to, like, how you feel like you've have you always felt comfortable in your own voice for it also?
Arielle Rebekah [:Yes and no. I mean, I've always been someone who's very outspoken. I remember my junior year English teacher. I I found this letter so many years later, but, so I was out as queer in high school, just when I was, like, 17, but not as trans.
Elena [:Mhmm.
Arielle Rebekah [:And it was when I was going through a really tough time. I I don't remember how this happened, but, like, basically I mean, every young queer is best friends with their English teachers. Right? This is a thing we know.
Elena [:Or that or an art teacher?
Arielle Rebekah [:Art teacher or English teacher. Right? It's one or it's one or the other. Yeah. So, like, I always loved my English teachers. I was really close to them. And so when I was, in the height of my, like, I am trans, but I can't come out because I'm too terrified of depression, My high school English teacher wrote me this note, and I don't remember anything else that was in it, but it was basically like you can just be yourself. You don't have to be the best ambassador of young gay America. I love that.
Arielle Rebekah [:And so I don't even remember, like, why that came up or, like, what kind of advocacy I was doing at that point, but it was enough that she got to write that. Mhmm. And so that illustrates, yes. Like, I've always been someone that's pretty outspoken about my identity. It has always been someone who wants to use my experiences to help educate people. When I came out as trans, because I had just come out of that boarding school and because I was so afraid of what my life would be like, afraid of, you know, how people would treat me, There was a number of years where I kinda just wanted people to perceive me as a cis woman. And as soon as people started perceiving me as a cis woman, I was like, oh, no. I don't want this.
Arielle Rebekah [:Like, I because it felt like a huge part of my identity was being erased and a huge part of my experience. Like, I have moved through the world as a trans person for my entire life. Mhmm. I have you know, my experiences are all filtered through the lens of being a trans person, of not getting to grow up as myself, of, you know, having to navigate what it meant to transition in an environment that wasn't supportive, and that has shaped so much with who I am that as soon as I started being perceived as a cis woman, I started feeling really uncomfortable. And, I mean, I have the privilege of being perceived as a cis woman most of the time when I'm, like, walking down the street, and so that definitely keeps me very safe. Mhmm. But because of that, I also am very intentional about using my voice to advocate for the trans community and and being out and proud about who I am. And it's interesting because, you know, we talk about the coffee industry and and how we have a lot of diverse voices, but not a lot a lot of inclusion.
Arielle Rebekah [:I feel like there is a this big interest in learning about marginalized communities, like the the the d of the DEI. Yeah. And there's not always as much interest in actually walking the walk. And that extends across marginalized communities. Right? Like, we've seen coffee shops get rid of masks even though that means that disabled people and immunocompromised people literally can't go to their coffee shops anymore. Like, what kind of inclusion is that? We've seen, you know, folks I mean, coffee shops calling the cops all the time even though that endangers black people and trans people. Like, you know, there there is a and that's not across the board, obviously. There's coffee shops and establishments that do this differently, but I feel like there is this hunger in the coffee industry to learn from me and to learn from other marginalized voices.
Arielle Rebekah [:And once the actions that are being requested of people begin to make them uncomfortable or begin to challenge their, you know
Elena [:Yeah. What they know and shit, like, from, like, their whole life is sort of like, well, this is what you think life looks like. But at the end of the day, that's not everyone else's experience.
Arielle Rebekah [:And and that is generally where it ends, where that that advocacy or the the support for marginalized voices ends at the for most people,
Elena [:for
Arielle Rebekah [:a lot of people, especially those in power, where it forces them to do, like, really hard work. Because inclusion is hard work. You know, folks are much more willing to hire someone and check off a box to say, like, oh, I had this person come in and do a training than they are to actually do the hard work of shifting the culture of their workplace.
Elena [:Yeah. I wonder where that kind of shift hasn't, like, kind of happened at this point. I think that the more we're going into, like, this I don't know what the next century is. The 22nd second? Yeah. Eventually, I feel like the 22nd century shouldn't be at this point where there hasn't been a clear shift of inclusivity. You know?
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. I mean, I agree. But until the, the old white cis establishment dies off, You're kinda stuck there.
Elena [:I will say, you've obviously met, like, a lot of people through this. Right? A lot of queer and trans people as well. I wanna know, like, what was the most impactful story that has affected, like, why you can I mean, you probably don't need somebody to tell you to keep doing what you're doing? But, like, what has been the most impactful story that, like, still sits with you?
Arielle Rebekah [:Like, can you explain?
Elena [:Yeah. So, like, sometimes you, like well, I'm not gonna assume. Like, if I was to be in that position where it's like I'm meeting all types of people and, like they're coming up to you and they're like having a conversation and then it gets a little personal, I feel like there's gotta be certain points where like some of these stories obviously will hit, but there's one that's gonna hit more so than others because of how how influential it's been for them. Like how seen they have been felt and like through that experience of what you created, that atmosphere of like, come join, be a part of this community. It's like, I feel like a lot of people would want to not only volunteer, but feel very seen and want to also share that and give that experience to other people.
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it it wasn't in the coffee industry. It was, so my first girlfriend actually from middle school
Elena [:Mhmm.
Arielle Rebekah [:We were, like, 13 years old. Her she has a sibling who's 5 or 6 6 years younger than her, who I we were 13, so this kid was, like, 8. And I just remember this kid beating kind of like, you know, a little kid. Yeah. So fast forward like 10 years, and this now grown adult messages me that they have come out as trans.
Elena [:Wow.
Arielle Rebekah [:And we got to talking, like, a couple of years later when I went to his sister's wedding. And, like, I just I don't think I ever realized, like I mean, like, I don't know. Like, I just feel like it's hard to notice people noticing you. Right? But, like, I mean, there was just a really touching moment where we were talking at his sister's Right? Right? Like, I like, he, like, knew me since he was a child. And it was just touching moment of, like, oh, I don't even have to say anything or do anything just by like being an out, proud trans person. I show other people that it's okay to be an out, proud trans person and that, like, you know, not everyone will have the same experience as me, not everyone has the same privilege and opportunity and access as I do, but, like, there is a brighter, better future for trans people. And that's what trans adults show to trans young people at general that, like, it is possible to thrive and be joyful as a trans person. But getting to hear that, like, this person that, like, frankly, I hadn't really, like, thought about in 10 years, like, that I, like, in the short time I knew him as a child, like, impacted his life was just so, motivating to continue doing what I do because it there's no telling how many people I am able to impact just by being myself.
Elena [:Mhmm. Yeah. I feel like, regardless of you being a white person, you are also a minority, you know? Like, you're part of that minority as well, where, like, regardless of race, a lot of what the queer community kind of bonds over is just that common amount of, like, experience and, like, sad trauma, if there is sad trauma. But it's it's so like, talking about identity in the first place and just going through that portal is already really hard as it is talking with a lot of cis normal people. Like, cisheteronormative people. Because a lot of that stuff doesn't kinda, like, phase versus, like, people who are constantly in question of who they are and their identity and their own skin. And I've been tightly committed to the queer community for a while, especially like back home. A lot of my closest friends are definitely part of the queer community.
Elena [:And it's it's been, it's been a very interesting thing to watch and see around, especially coming from, like, more of a black community. And like, I I genuinely would love more trans representation on the show as well because I think I love that perspective that only, like, a trans person can give because it's such a secular experience for each person that I think is so vital to also hear out. Yeah. Outside of Just Like Coffee, like, a lot of the time the show kinda goes off the wall with talking about, like, different topics. So, like, if you feel like it's, like, oh, it's not related to coffee, I'm like, it's still fine. You can still talk about it.
Arielle Rebekah [:Well, that was always my perspective with my show. Like, it was trans and caffeinated, but it's like, just talk about whatever you wanna talk about.
Elena [:Yeah. Like, you're just Yeah.
Arielle Rebekah [:I just wanna learn. That's what I hear about you.
Elena [:Seriously, I feel like, obviously, like, I'm kind of very nosy, and I'm like, well, just tell me everything about yourself. And and a lot of people are like you
Arielle Rebekah [:as a podcast host.
Elena [:I'm just like, I don't wanna. And I'm just like, well, what is your story? And, like, I guess, like, for me, I always find it interesting. I kinda, like, have gotten in the routine of asking this question, and it's totally, like, valid if you don't really have a real answer. But what made you wanna come on the show?
Arielle Rebekah [:You asked me to.
Elena [:That's also fair.
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. I mean, I'm I'm kind of like a I don't know. I like talking. I like getting to know people. I'm always down to record a podcast episode. I'm always down to, like, put my voice and experiences out there.
Elena [:Mhmm.
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. And I I I mean, just similar to you, I just always like meeting new people, talking with new people. Yeah. I don't know. That's kind of my answer.
Elena [:That's okay. So I guess, like, if you're curious about anything, you're welcome to ask me questions also. It's not just like a one side conversation.
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. Yeah. I mean, as I've checked out, like, your your pages a little bit, but I'm curious, like, what what is sort of the goal of your podcast?
Elena [:I think I've gotten this question twice now, and I I'm always stumped because, like, I think and it's nice to feel kind of affirmed in this too is that, like, you don't really think much when you commit to an idea. Right? Like, you're just like, oh, that sounds, like, cool. Like, the it comes like, conceptualizing that idea is cool. And it was just like, my coffee journey has been all over the fucking place, and I have always had more of a hostile environment in the coffee world. And, like, a lot of it was I would love to meet more people who've sadly had more trauma bonding in coffee than like just having like a really great experience. Because at the end of the day, I think the illusion that coffee gives is this, like, paradise of, like, creativity and, and like, community and all that other shit. And I'm like, yeah, that that does that's valid. That exists.
Elena [:Like, there's expos. There's, like, throw downs and and, like, all that other shit. But at the end of the day, there's a lot of people who, if you talk to them on more of an individual level, they're like, well, upper management's doing this shit. Oh, like the importers are doing this shit. Oh, like, I don't get why I can't get transparency. I just wanna talk to the producers. Like, it's it's shit like that, like, people don't get to hear about, but it all exists. Like, I remember I went to SCA's Roaster Guild retreat, and, like, a lot of the shit that I was seeing, I was like, I really don't like this.
Elena [:There's, like, a, like, really large lack of representation.
Arielle Rebekah [:And Sure. Oh, and roasters specifically? Yes.
Elena [:Yeah. And, like, I was I had
Arielle Rebekah [:Especially roasters.
Elena [:Yeah. I had been a roaster for, like, 2 years. And Wow. I'm I'm based in the Midwest, so you can kinda expect how that fucking went. Where are
Arielle Rebekah [:you based?
Elena [:Midwest. So, like, Ohio.
Arielle Rebekah [:Cool. I'm in Chicago. Midwest. Sure. Yeah.
Elena [:But, yeah. It was just like I I just kinda got fed up with the idea that like, all of this shit is just kinda like swept under the rug. And like, I'm also very outspoken in different ways. And when I started this podcast, it was more of like, okay, I want people to just be like, fuck this shit. And then the more I actually started getting into the podcast and like hearing these people's stories, it started turning more into like, oh, this is like a cool, like, auto bio, like, documentary kind of situation that I really do enjoy. And it's really interesting. Every episode has its own vibe. Every person has their own vibe and what they're like what that kind of creates at the end of it all.
Elena [:But I kinda also just really fell in love with podcasting as a whole. It's somebody who's like Yeah. You said you love English.
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. It's a whole medium. It's it's definitely an interesting, like, way to get to know people.
Elena [:Yeah. Like, I'm an English major. So if that you said queer people either love English English teachers or art teachers. I I think that there's so much strength. There's so much emphasis and importance on preserving spoken word, let alone written word. And I think that, like, even in moderate age and digital age, the even if, like, only 2 people ever listened to my show. You know what I mean? Like, that that was all I really cared about was, like, well, I have this idea. If it goes into the ether of the the dark web and then never emerges, then that's what it is.
Elena [:But at the end of the day, I was just like, I feel like a lot of the people I've found, like, it almost therapeutic almost to kinda just like podcasting, but longevity wise, it's definitely shifted. I thought that this would really kind of stay geared into the realm of coffee. But now it's, like, intertwined as, like coffee is sort of like a lifestyle for a lot of the people I've had on the show. Well, it's
Arielle Rebekah [:funny because, like, I haven't been a working barista in so many years. And, like, I am in the coffee industry. I'm, like, also not in the coffee industry. Yeah. I'm, like, also not in the coffee industry. Yeah. Like
Elena [:It's just a different sector, I feel like. I think that, like, you, you obviously deal with a lot more different problems than a lot of people that are just, like like, slinging spro. You know what I mean?
Arielle Rebekah [:Right. And that's the thing. It's like, I definitely am still in the coffee industry. It's just like, it is in such a coffee adjacent kind of way. Yeah. Like, I haven't actually worked with coffee itself Yeah. In so many years.
Elena [:Yeah. Do you ever miss doing it?
Arielle Rebekah [:I do. I I mean, I have a espresso machine in my house, but, like, my body could not handle being a working barista. I'm almost 30. Like, I
Elena [:Yeah. The burnout gets real.
Arielle Rebekah [:I know people still do it. I just I have worked bar shifts kind of like, I've worked bar shifts throughout the past few years. Every single time it wrecks my body.
Elena [:Yeah. It's a yeah.
Arielle Rebekah [:I I miss parts of it. Like, I miss, you know, talking to people, like, pouring drinks with my friends, like, you know, every, like you know, when you work a bar shift with your best coffee bud? Mhmm. Like, I miss that kind of stuff. I don't miss, like, being bullied by customers or shitty management or not getting paid enough or any of that. But yeah. I mean, there's definitely there's always many pieces I miss. Like, there's a reason that I stay involved, and it really is the people. And I mean, like, expo's coming up.
Arielle Rebekah [:Like, I'm gonna probably pour a couple drinks at Turani's booth. I'm gonna pour a couple drinks at Ren Chilio's booth. Like, I'll be around, and I'll, you know, sling Slingpro a couple of times, but I would never wanna go back to
Elena [:Yeah.
Arielle Rebekah [:Fully working bar shifts.
Elena [:I was gonna, like, transition a little bit to expo, just because, like, I have been asked if I'm going, and obviously, I'm I'm not. But a lot of it, it comes down to you were talking about a lack of resources for people Sure. At one point. And, I guess, like, what are your thoughts on, like, how SCA operates for resources for people? I loved the the transition. I was like, yeah.
Arielle Rebekah [:Bad? Negative? I mean, SEA US, fucking love them. SEA US, cool organization and great people, adore them. FCA Global is a mega corporation that causes so much harm to so many people across the globe. And I could not care any less about access, could not care any less about supporting marginalized people, and that's, like, so obvious. Yeah. And so I and, you know, expo itself is really expensive. Yeah. I, I again, talking about privilege, like, I've never paid to go to expo.
Arielle Rebekah [:Mhmm. I mean, I I've paid for flights and lodging, but I've, like, always got I've always gotten a pass from someone or other. And, like, this year is in my hometown, and so I don't even have to pay for that. And so yeah. But I I do think that, you know, they always pick expensive cities. They always pick expensive parts of those cities. Yeah. Often they pick cities without, like, amazing public transport.
Arielle Rebekah [:And, yeah, I think it's it's really inaccessible to the people that actually deserve to go. Mhmm. And then this year with competitions not being at expo, it I mean, one of the ways that local baristas get to go to competitions is by, like, working their company's booth and then checking out the competitions. Well, now that the competitions have been separated from expo, a whole new group of people that could otherwise have, like, gotten to experience coffee competitions for the very first time aren't gonna be able to.
Elena [:Yeah.
Arielle Rebekah [:And so I I think we're kind of I'm hopeful for the ways in which SCA US and SCA Global have split. I'm hopeful that that leads to greater access. However, the way that, like, the funding and the money is still controlled by SCA Global sort of precludes that from happening as long as that is tied up in that way. And so yeah. I I mean, it it it makes me sad that it is a sort of gate kept experience that can and has opened up a lot of doors for a lot of people, but the people that actually need and deserve access to that space usually aren't able to go.
Elena [:Yeah. I was gonna say, I don't think I've ever gone I've never gone to an SCA, like, actual event. I got to go to roasters guild retreat because I won a scholarship. And even then, I was like, I'll just stay in my car for the few days because, like, I can't fucking afford to get, like, lodging. Sure. But, yeah, I always felt like I was like, what's the point of having this big ass thing and then you had to spend, like, over a grand to get in? You know? Not even, like, it's not even, like, going to a concert. You know what I mean? Like because it's set up like
Arielle Rebekah [:a business to business trade show.
Elena [:Mhmm.
Arielle Rebekah [:Right? Like, it could provide resources to baristas that don't have access. Like, SCA could offer scholarships to hourly baristas to make sure that they get
Elena [:in. Yeah.
Arielle Rebekah [:Like, if they were invested in access, they would charge a higher ticket price to corporations so that they could give scholarships to hourly baristas to attend.
Elena [:Mhmm.
Arielle Rebekah [:Like, that is what access looks like. That is also you know, conferences that I attend that are interested in access. That's what they do. Yeah. If they always say, like, you know, okay. Based on your budget, you should pay this ticket price. If you'd like to pay more, go ahead and pay more. And what that does is offer is increase our scholarship fund for other people who can't afford to attend to be able to attend for free.
Arielle Rebekah [:Mhmm. And so there's so many ways that expo could be more accessible and actually offer opportunities to hourly baristas? Because, I mean, how often do hourly baristas get to interact with people that work for corporate coffee companies in person. Yeah. Like, very rarely. And it could be such a great opportunity for people to get to do that if they were actually invested Mhmm. Invested in making that happen.
Elena [:Yeah. I feel like that's all a very valid point. I think, Yeah. Honestly, I think that you kinda summed that up really well, actually. I think that that would be a great way to kind of create more inclusivity to people that honestly wanna be a part of that. You know, like, SCA Expo is like a huge huge nationwide thing that a lot of people want to be able to have experience at least once that work in the coffee world. Yeah. And it's just a lot of it is for, like, a lot of that flashy aspect.
Elena [:A lot of the throw downs that you can experience the community. You get to meet some importers and, like, producers. And it's a great time. But, yeah, I always felt like it was always hard for me to be a part of whatever specialty coffee community there was because there was no access and there was no, like, resources to really being able to do that. Let alone, like, where I'm from, there's really not that large of a coffee community outside of, like
Arielle Rebekah [:Right.
Elena [:Corporate chains and, like, small, like, second wave roaster places.
Arielle Rebekah [:Yep. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it makes sense. Yeah. Depending on the part of the country, like, there's so little access to anything.
Elena [:Mhmm. So I know that you had, I didn't expect you to drop your hot take as fast as you did. Because usually, at some point later on in the episode, we always bring up the hot take, which is basically
Arielle Rebekah [:a controversial hot issue?
Elena [:I don't know. You just, like, immediately were like, well, my hot take is, like, we don't need diversity, we need inclusivity.
Arielle Rebekah [:Oh, I I am if I am the the I am just a ball of hot takes.
Elena [:Okay. Go ahead. Start firing. Start firing.
Arielle Rebekah [:Hell no. Hell no. Not when I'm under pressure.
Elena [:Oh, well, that's usually, like, the whole point. It's, like, we kinda just, like, showcase that this segment is finally happening.
Arielle Rebekah [:Hot takes now? Okay. Oh, so many hot takes. Coffee hot takes? Hot takes in general?
Elena [:You can do both.
Arielle Rebekah [:Okay. We could end the debate of which is better, New York pizza or, Chicago style pizza by understanding that Chicago style pizza and New York pizza are 2 different foods. New York pizza is pizza, and deep dish is basically bread lasagna.
Elena [:I will also agree with that. As somebody who loves, like, thin pizza though, like, yeah.
Arielle Rebekah [:It it just it's just bread lasagna. The debate is not whether Central Jersey exists. The debate should be, that it doesn't matter whether Central Jersey exists. What matters is why are we dividing it into regions that don't make sense? The way that we should be dividing Jersey is New York Jersey, Philadelphia Jersey, The Shore, and the people of the hills.
Elena [:I love that little transition. Thank you. Thank you.
Arielle Rebekah [:Thank you. The question is not whether New York Bagels are the best bagels in the world. The question is why are people understanding that New Jersey Bagels are better than New York Bagels exponentially. And the reason being, New Jersey doesn't sell as many bagels. It's kind of like a MasterChef making a meal for 5,000 people versus, like, a 100 people. Yeah. You just get more quality control. Oh, another hot take.
Arielle Rebekah [:Starbucks, sourcing is actually pretty good. They source very good coffee, and then they burn the shit out of it.
Elena [:That's really fucking sad.
Arielle Rebekah [:Sure is. They buy some of the same coffee as other like, as as 3rd wave, like, the the the specialty coffee companies. Like, they buy, like, from the same farms. And their quality control is actually very, very intense. Like, they have very good quality control in terms of, like, the beans that they buy, very high standards, and then they burn the shit out of it.
Elena [:I don't understand that though. You know what I mean? Like, what's the point of having good coffee and then you just roast it to filth, and then it's just like carbon ash in a cup?
Arielle Rebekah [:Let me see. Oh, people always think that I judge them for buying Folgers, but actually, I applaud them for buying Folgers because most coffee in the world is commodity grade coffee. And if no one is buying commodity grade coffee anymore, then farmers can't afford their cost
Elena [:reduction. Yeah. That's true. I will agree.
Arielle Rebekah [:I never judge anyone for buying Folgers. I don't find it very tasty, and I like my, fancy, fancy coffee.
Elena [:Mhmm.
Arielle Rebekah [:But I love when people enjoy buying Folgers because it keeps farmers in business. Maybe not Folgers specifically, but, like, commodity grade coffee.
Elena [:It's really interesting too. I feel like what would be really interesting is to have somebody on the show who could talk more about instant coffee. And I know that instant coffee has a horrible reputation in America, and in Europe. But in Asia, they fucking perfected the craft of instant coffee. Like, it's honestly real good. And, like, it's just really interesting how Asian culture is surrounded by coffee and the way that it works. And then when I learned a lot more of the history of, like, soldiers and, like, the the creation of, why instant coffee was a thing. Like, the instant coffee part of the, like, world, that's a huge actual, like, part of the coffee world and consumerism is, really underrepresented and underdeveloped in American culture because of how we haven't taken the time to really, like, go forth and create a good product versus if we are talking more on, like, Asia in general kinda, like, have really idolized not idolized, but they've really, like, highlighted instant coffee and just, like, normal day to day culture.
Elena [:And, like, I've tasted a lot of really great, like, Asian based brands for, instant coffee. And I'm just like, this is honestly fucking good. Like, I take this over, like, Folgers or, like, Maxwell Coffee. You know?
Arielle Rebekah [:Oh, yeah. Well, even the dismissal of Asian coffees as lesser is definitely, like, based in racism and, like, prioritization of western palates and, like, this this this this, like, you know, this obsession with, like, Ethiopian natural, like, have, and, this one singular idea of what specialty coffees are quote, unquote supposed to taste like eliminates opportunities for coffees that don't taste like that to be celebrated. Like, we
Elena [:have we
Arielle Rebekah [:have, like, the the powers that we within the coffee industry have sort of, like, defined one particular taste as specialty. And because Asian and Indonesian coffees are don't fit within that very finite view of what constitutes a delicious, you know, 89 point coffee. Even though I contest that, I think they do. Like, we have the the the coffee industry at large had this idea that they don't. They are often written off as a lesser or inferior to, you know, Latin American washed coffee or an Ethiopian natural. Mhmm.
Elena [:Yeah. I guess, like, we did have really random hot takes that I loved. That was great. Do you have a hot take towards the industry at all?
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. I mean, there there's so many ways that coffee corporate companies can create, leadership paths for hourly baristas to get their dream jobs, and I have not seen one company actually take the initiative to build those roads.
Elena [:Yeah. I think I also can, like, jump on board with that also. I think it's really interesting, though. Living vicariously through social media is seeing, like, a lot of people who work in, like, the production aspect, kinda like travel to origin, as a company trip. But then it it's sad because it's like, there's a lot of people that want that opportunity or want to understand more about the coffee world and and, like, the processing and a lot of, like, varietals and all that, and they don't have accessibility to it. And it it bothers me when I I get to see a lot of, it's like privilege almost, but it's not at the same time because it's on company. But, I guess, like, is that more towards, like, a corporate standard? Is that what you're asking about or telling?
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. I mean, I'm not saying that there is no company that does it. I'm saying that I haven't seen it. Mhmm. You know, I would love to see corporations build, paths for hourly baristas to enter salaried roles within coffee corporations, and I cannot name a single corporate coffee company that does that. Hi, Saffron. I'd say the one that I've seen give some, like, some some really good opportunities actually is Tarani. Mhmm.
Arielle Rebekah [:At least in, like, you know, their cafe opportunity fund, like, definitely investing in smaller, coffee companies and cafes. But that's really the only one that comes to mind is, like, really creating ample opportunities. And I know and the thing is, like, that doesn't mean that there are people, like, wonderful people in a lot of these companies that are invested in doing that
Elena [:Mhmm.
Arielle Rebekah [:Because I met so many that, like, agree with me that there need to be these, these paths to leadership. And they are generally not the people with the power to actually make that happen.
Elena [:Yeah. Yeah. That's sadly the story that has been going.
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. But Saffron wants that to change.
Elena [:I'm on team Saffron.
Arielle Rebekah [:Everyone will be on team Saffron.
Elena [:He's just such a perfect little baby. He's just a perfect little baby boy. So I guess, since you had asked that question, it's my turn to ask you where what's, where do you see Trans and Caffeinated going? Or, like, what you're creating? Like, what is the outcome that you're wanting to kinda, like, build for yourself?
Arielle Rebekah [:I do wanna start taking on more communications contracts. I love doing work in the coffee industry, and I think I want to make it more of, like, doing passion projects within coffee rather than needing it to be, like, a big source of my income. And Trans and Caffeinated is gonna be focused on giving Saffron the best life I can give him. Yeah. I I would love for coffee to be, like, most of my passion projects.
Elena [:All I hear is just a whomp on the table. A whomp.
Arielle Rebekah [:You do not like the little belly taps. Loved it. I did. But, yeah, I I I wanna do passion projects and coffee, and I don't wanna rely on it for my income. And so I want to start taking on more communications contracts within advocacy work, and I want I so I just opened a 501c3 arm of my business and sort of my, like, 2 year plan and and sort of, like this is very much, like, what I'm doing with Cafe Cafe is, like, you know, I am on, like, a small retainer with them, but, really, my goal is just, like, supporting this business and thriving. And I would love to be able to just offer, like, pro bono consulting services to small coffee shops, small coffee companies that are just looking to for some additional support that might not be able to afford it and just be able to do that as a passion project rather than needing to bring income for it. And in order to do that, I need to bring in, like, more larger companies that can pay me more money Mhmm. So that I can still, like, pay my bills and also do that.
Elena [:That's really cool. I honestly, a lot of what you'd what you were, like, talking about that you do is just really fucking cool. Like
Arielle Rebekah [:Thanks.
Elena [:How's it been working with TLC?
Arielle Rebekah [:I love it. Yeah. I mean, it it's gotten me out in front of a lot of really cool audiences, given me a lot of opportunities. Like, I mean, they give me a pretty, better I think a long leash. I don't know. Like, they they give me a a long like, I have a lot of ability to just, like, create the projects that I wanna create with them, which is really cool. Like, they have organizational priorities and goals. And as long as the work that I do fits within that, they are typically invested in the projects that I wanna do, which is great because, I I mean, my values are aligned with the organization.
Arielle Rebekah [:Like, I the projects I'm interested in doing are generally the same projects that fit within their organizational priorities. Yeah. And so it's just really awesome to get to create with them and have the organizational resources to back it up because, TLC, like, has some pretty good funding. And so I am very much able to fund the projects, get paid good money to do so, like, contract other people if like, we have a designer that we work with who's really awesome. And, yeah. I don't know. It's been it's really cool, and I get to do some really incredible work with them.
Elena [:That's really cool. Yeah.
Arielle Rebekah [:And get out in front of some really cool audiences too.
Elena [:Yeah. I was gonna I mean, TLC is a really big channel.
Arielle Rebekah [:Transgender Law Center. It's not the yeah. It's not the the TV channel.
Elena [:I'm glad that I got the clarity for that then. Because in my brain, I don't think I've ever, like, come upon that before.
Arielle Rebekah [:It's I mean, it's a national organization. It's pretty big, but it's also, like, unless you're in the nonprofit world, it isn't necessarily, like, one of the most well known.
Elena [:Okay. Yeah. No. That's really cool, though. I'm I'm glad that that has been mutually beneficial for both you and Trans and Caffeinated. And Yeah. I I think that you've really accomplished a lot. Like, it's crazy.
Elena [:How long is how long have you been doing Transincaffeinated?
Arielle Rebekah [:September 2019.
Elena [:Damn. You've done a lot in this a few years.
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. I mean, my work with in advocacy had started before Transincaffeinated. Mhmm. Like, I started working in advocacy in 2017. But very much have, like, been able to build a lot for myself in a pretty short period of time.
Elena [:That's pretty dope. You're pretty dope.
Arielle Rebekah [:Thank you. I appreciate that. I think you're pretty dope too.
Elena [:So I guess, like, I'm gonna close this episode a little differently. I'm gonna give you the the opportunity to close this episode with one last question.
Arielle Rebekah [:I'm gonna ask you a question?
Elena [:Yeah. Cool.
Arielle Rebekah [:Okay. It doesn't matter how
Elena [:deep you wanna go or how shallow you wanna go. Go in.
Arielle Rebekah [:They
Elena [:say they got one. They're
Arielle Rebekah [:over there. They think they should ever so many different ones. I wanna
Elena [:have the
Arielle Rebekah [:best one.
Elena [:Mhmm. Okay.
Arielle Rebekah [:Oh my god. I have so many wait. Let me look back at some of my earlier icebreaker questions. I wanna ask you a really good one.
Elena [:Icebreaker questions. I love those. Those, like, starter conversation questions. So, like, you have, like, you go
Arielle Rebekah [:Sort of. You'll you'll see. You'll see. You'll see.
Elena [:I mean, if you have multiple questions you wanna ask, I'm not gonna limit you to just one. I just figured I didn't wanna put you on the spot.
Arielle Rebekah [:No. Please put me on the spot. Okay. If you could have one discount superpower, what would it be and why? So for example, it would be, like, walk through you can walk through walls, but you have to be running at full speed in order to do it, and it only works 4 to 5 times. So, like, the 5th time, you would just slam into the wall at full force.
Elena [:So this is one that, like, bears a consequence.
Arielle Rebekah [:Sure does.
Elena [:Let's see.
Arielle Rebekah [:I have mine.
Elena [:Well, yeah. You you've thought of this one.
Arielle Rebekah [:You went to mine?
Elena [:Yeah. Go ahead.
Arielle Rebekah [:Okay. Mine is I can fly, but I don't have whatever, like, secondary superpower other flying super heroes have that, like, makes them impervious to, like, swallowing bugs and birds and shit. Because you know how you whenever you see, like, Superman
Elena [:Yeah. They're like, no bugs or birds in this car.
Arielle Rebekah [:Or swallowing bugs. Dude's never smashed me into birds no matter how fast he's flying. Okay. I can fly, but I don't have whatever that secondary superpower is that precludes that from happening.
Elena [:Damn. I think that it'd be really cool to have, like, tele telepathy. And then, like, on the off chance that, like, you're hearing what someone's saying, you have to say what they're thinking out loud. Like, I think that'd be really fucking cool. It's like, oh, wow. They're thinking that, and then all of a sudden my mouth just starts saying what they're thinking, and I'm just like, well
Arielle Rebekah [:I've heard a different version of that where it's like, you can use telepathy, but just like randomly sometimes instead of you hearing their thoughts, they hear your thoughts instead.
Elena [:Oh, fuck. I was like, no, protect my brain. That's great. Was that it? Yeah. That was it.
Arielle Rebekah [:That was
Elena [:my question. I love that. Okay. Well, that was a great way to send off the episode. I guess, like, was there anything else left you'd like to say before we clock out?
Arielle Rebekah [:Clock out.
Elena [:Yes. Is this a shift? Every day is a shift.
Arielle Rebekah [:Incredible. Yeah. If you had to muppetify 1 piece of media and meaning that, everybody in that piece of media would be a muppet except for one character, what piece of media would it be, and which character would remain a human?
Elena [:I really love the the originality of these questions. I'm about to fucking disappoint you and say I've never watched The Muppets.
Arielle Rebekah [:You don't have to watch The Muppet. You just have to know which of which, basically a movie where every single character is a puppet besides one character.
Elena [:And it's a movie?
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. A movie or TV show where
Elena [:I think Avengers would be really fucking funny.
Arielle Rebekah [:Avengers? Yeah. Okay. Which character would stay human? They all are puppets besides one person. Who is gonna stay human?
Elena [:I think Hulk. I'm thinking Mark Ruffalo. I would love to see him just deal with a bunch of children and not fucking go. I like this. Yeah. Okay.
Arielle Rebekah [:I like
Elena [:I I like these questions. Now I just wanna keep answering these questions.
Arielle Rebekah [:Mine is mine is Avengers, but it's Black Widow, actually.
Elena [:Like, she stays human?
Arielle Rebekah [:Yeah. I think she'd just be really irritated with everyone.
Elena [:Yeah. It was just, like, constant banter, and she's just standing there just, like, dead panning.
Arielle Rebekah [:Yep.
Elena [:That's a good one.
Arielle Rebekah [:Alright. That's what I got for you. Okay.
Elena [:Well, it was great having you on the show. I loved your hot takes. I loved, like, all of the really cool funky questions you had. And I loved hearing your story. And I really appreciate you just being open and being able to just kinda, like, come on and just say, like, a lot of stuff that probably a lot of people wouldn't feel comfortable too. So thank you.
Arielle Rebekah [:Oh, yeah. No. I got you. Alright. Thanks so much.
Elena [:Well, you have a great rest of your evening because we are both on EST. So
Arielle Rebekah [:I'm in central, actually. Fuck.
Elena [:So you're an hour behind.
Arielle Rebekah [:Chicago's over the border.
Elena [:Oh, god. The stupid fucking time shifts are stupid.
Arielle Rebekah [:Well, Chicago is the first, Like like, when if you go east of Chicago, you're in eastern time. So, like, when you cross the bridge, like, the the highway leaving Chicago, when you cross the sign that says you're leaving Chicago, you cross in EST.
Elena [:Interesting. Alrighty. Well, I hope you have a great rest of your afternoon since we won't get you.
Arielle Rebekah [:It is an hour earlier. Calm down, darling. It is still 5:45.
Elena [:Is it? What time? It's 6:46. Yep. Alrighty. Well Alright. See you. Bye. Bye. I think I kinda said it many times throughout this episode how cool Aria was on just, like, kind of being really open and honest.
Elena [:You can definitely tell that they are used to telling their story, which is really, like, interesting. I feel like I would still find it so uncomfortable to be that open, but it kind of just speaks for their character and how comfortable they are in their voice, and they obviously reiterated that they've always been very proud to be queer and trans and they knew from the get go, it seems. And obviously despite their experience with identity and and going through that at a young age, they definitely didn't let that stop them and affect them. Instead, they decided to do something even better, which is broadcast, trans and queer voices and try to create something for them and work with really cool organizations that I had never heard of. And I think it was really cool to have a really interesting fresh take. I loved their hot takes. As much as it wasn't, like, on topic, I I still really enjoyed those, like, really in those really interesting questions towards the end. So, yeah.
Elena [:It was a really good talc. Okay. That's all I got. Bye.
