EP. 3 - TRISTAN KATZ
"I feel like we need people to share the stuff that's still cooking, you know, the stuff that's still percolating. If Adrienne Marie Brown only shared the stuff that she had totally figured out, we would not have a whole body of work to chew on right? And the same goes for Michelle's books and every other teacher that probably exists... I just feel like there's skillfulness and wisdom in this - there's knowing what feels right to share and what you're not ready to share yet."
- Tristan Katz
This conversation with Tristan was one of those profoundly enriching exchanges that reminded me why I'm so passionate about having these authentic dialogues. Tristan brought such a beautiful blend of vulnerability and wisdom, sharing their journey from journalism and politics into the intersection of yoga and equity work, particularly through their collaboration with Michelle Cassandra Johnson on creating safer spaces. What struck me most was how they talked about their experience of "otherness" leading to meaningful social change, their perspective as a trans person on authentic marketing versus transactional relationships, and the ongoing challenge of maintaining work-life balance as entrepreneurs while remembering who we are beyond our professional roles. We explored how wellness practices like yoga and Ayurveda can serve collective liberation rather than just individual transformation, discussed maintaining hope in challenging times through healing conversations, and dove into Tristan's profound insight about understanding triggers as valuable information. This conversation left me feeling grateful for the opportunity to engage in this kind of dialogue and hopeful about the work we're all doing to integrate authenticity, healing, and social justice.
Tristan Katz (they/he) is a writer, educator, marketing strategist, and equity-inclusion facilitator specializing in content marketing strategies for justice-focused leaders and queer-trans Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB) training and consulting. Their intention is to share this work with an anti-oppression and intersectional lens. As a longtime student of social movements and social justice, Tristan’s work centers on values-focused content development, the exploration of power, privilege, and oppression, and the intersection between solidarity and marketing.
