The Daily Beans – Role Models (feat. Jay of It Gets Better)

Date: March 31, 2026
Hosts: Allison Gill (AG), Dana Goldberg (DG)
Guest: Jay, Youth Voices Ambassador at It Gets Better
Occasion: Trans Day of Visibility

Episode Overview

This episode, released on Trans Day of Visibility, highlights recent political news with a focus on LGBTQ+ issues, particularly the voices of trans youth. The centerpiece is an extensive interview with Jay, an inspiring 16-year-old Indian American trans man and activist, as the Daily Beans announces a significant $10,000 donation to It Gets Better. The episode balances serious news about ongoing political events with uplifting stories and tangible social justice actions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trans Day of Visibility & Episode Purpose

• The episode honors Trans Day of Visibility, emphasizing support for trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals. The hosts celebrate visibility but also acknowledge and honor those who cannot safely be visible.

  • “To all...that don't feel safe necessarily being as visible...we still see you. You are part of this community and we love you.” (Dana, 01:53)

• Announcement: The Daily Beans donates $10,000 to It Gets Better; listeners are encouraged to match via itgetsbetter.org/dailybeansdonate.

2. Political News Rundown (“Hot Notes”)

• GOP Aims to Cut Health Funding for War/ICE:

  • Republicans consider slashing federal health spending to fund ICE and the Iran war (“Operation Epic Fury”).
  • "They're working on clawing back $30 billion by shrinking assistance people receive to pay their monthly premiums...Move would also help fund ICE, whose budget is a central sticking point." (AG, 03:54)

• U.S. in Iran—Public Disapproval and War Crimes Warning:

  • Trump threatens to destroy Iranian infrastructure, including desalinization plants—an act that would constitute a war crime.
  • "You're going to take away their clean drinking water? You're going to blow up their electrical grids? Are you insane?" (Dana, 07:50)
  • Spain bars US planes in Iran war; calls the war “profoundly illegal and profoundly unjust.” (AG/Dana, 08:21)

• Army Investigation in Nashville:

  • US Army investigates Apache helicopter flyovers at Kid Rock’s Nashville home during protest. Army unclear if maneuver was deliberate or incidental.
  • "I kind of wonder...if this was a couple of army reservists taking this thing...for a joy [ride]." (AG, 11:49)

• Historic Wage Win for WNBA Players:

  • Claudia Goldin, Nobel laureate, advised WNBA union for a deal delivering a 400% pay raise ($580,000 average salary).
  • "It isn’t just the biggest pay increase in US league history, it is...the biggest...any union anywhere [has] ever negotiated." (Dana, 13:51)

• Corporate Media Merger Paused:

  • Federal judge halts Nexstar-Tegna merger over antitrust concerns, resists Trump administration pressure.

• Democratic Upset in Florida:

  • Democrat Brian Nathan wins special state senate election in Florida by just five votes, highlighting the importance of every ballot.

3. Spotlight Interview: Jay, Youth Voices Ambassador at It Gets Better

[Starts ~21:00]

a. Jay’s Introduction & Path to Activism

• Jay joined It Gets Better after a friend recommended it; doubted himself but was encouraged by seeing peers take action.

  • "I was completely blown away by what these youth ambassadors were doing...But over time, I thought...this is my opportunity." (Jay, 22:53)

• It Gets Better provided a platform for national impact and confidence-building for Jay and others.

b. Current Advocacy Projects

• Jay is organizing a panel with educational leaders on supporting queer youth in schools.

  • "I think another really important aspect of advocacy is outreach...reaching out to educators...school can be such a scary place for a lot of queer and trans youth." (Jay, 24:37)

• Importance of moving beyond internal community work to broader outreach.

c. Power of Representation and Storytelling

• It Gets Better leverages social media and youth-generated content for genuine outreach.
  • “A lot of content that is created by organizations has a tendency to be almost kind of formal, kind of stale...to be able to create...videos as a youth, to talk on Twitch Streams is so, so useful to me.” (Jay, 26:57)

d. Panel on Trans Representation

• Moderating a panel tied to the documentary “Heightened Scrutiny,” emphasizing diverse forms of representation.
  • “To see, oh, yeah, as a trans guy, I can walk up someday and be in front of the Supreme Court...that’s so inspiring.” (Jay, 29:10)

e. Biggest Issue Facing Trans/Nonbinary Youth

• Loss of hope amid legislative attacks is the top concern, more than any individual policy.
  • "As a trans youth, being able to say, hey, look, there's a trans kid out there who...is feeling happy...that hope is what saves so many trans kids from suicide." (Jay, 31:09)

f. Advice for Allies and Parents

• Support doesn’t require big gestures—just show up, respect pronouns, and help kids find community.
  • “Just be there for them, respect their pronouns, tell them that you support them and help them find a community.” (Jay, 32:08)

g. Where Donations Go

• Direct impact: Youth-led projects like queer proms, gender-affirming care closets, and mental health workshops.
  • “You are specifically funding a local campaign by Queer Youth for queer youth.” (Jay, 34:03)

h. Youth Leadership and Sports

• Jay’s involvement in Los Altos Hacks (a coding hackathon for social good) and competitive Spartan racing.
  • “Trans kids are way less likely to do sports than CIS kids just because it feels scary...Individual sports...helped me feel more confident in my body as a trans kid.” (Jay, 38:14)

i. Call to Action: Visibility, Donation, and Support

• Hosts praise Jay’s work; highlight importance of ongoing, visible support—allies must self-educate and speak out.

j. Contact & Support

• Listeners encouraged to support It Gets Better and attend Jay's Trans Day of Visibility panel via itgetsbetter.org.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He starts the fire, he’s the arsonist and then he’s the fireman.” (AG, on Trump, 09:40)
• “I want to do something that’s going to meaningfully impact my community...this is my opportunity.” (Jay, 22:53)
• “Just be there for them, respect their pronouns, tell them you support them...” (Jay, 32:08)
• “I can beat the cisgender boys.” (Jay on Spartan racing, 38:14)
• “Being that beacon of hope is truly the most important thing I think I could do...” (Jay, 31:36)
• Announcement: “We’re going to make another $10,000 donation in support of Trans Day of Visibility.” (AG, 35:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:53 – Dana’s message to trans & nonbinary listeners on visibility
• 02:20 – Announcement of $10,000 donation to It Gets Better
• 03:27 – 18:29 – Political news rundown (“Hot Notes”)
• 21:02 – Interview with Jay begins
• 22:53 – Jay on joining It Gets Better
• 24:37 – Jay on outreach in education
• 26:57 – Power of social media and youth-led storytelling
• 28:28 – Trans Day of Visibility panel & representation in leadership
• 31:09 – On hope as the key issue for trans youth
• 32:08 – Advice for adults & allies
• 34:03 – How donations make direct impact
• 35:00 – $10,000 donation announced
• 36:41 – Los Altos Hacks & youth coding for good
• 38:14 – Advice to trans athletes
• 43:35 – end – Listener good news, protest stories, community shout-outs

Listener Good News & Community Section

• Shared stories from the No Kings protests around the country, with creative protest signs and collective action highlighted.
• Uplifting stories of rescue pets, family campaigns for public office, community activism, and art inspired by the podcast.

Conclusion

Tone:
Caring, irreverent, snarky, and deeply engaged—with clear moments of genuine emotion and inspiration, especially in the advocacy interview.

Takeaway:
This episode uses Trans Day of Visibility to center a young role model’s voice, demonstrate meaningful allyship, and galvanize its community. Listeners are empowered to take specific actions—educating themselves, directly supporting trans youth, and not underestimating the power of hope and representation.