Dem Bois Podcast
Dem Bois Podcast
A Body Made Home: Reflection with Shawn Aaron and Joël Simeu
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What does “home” mean to you? This is a word with multiple definitions and Kai Marshall Green explores many of them in his memoir, A Body Made Home: They Black Trans Love. And that is what this episode of Dem Bois Podcast is all about. Today I sit down with our Production Assistant, Joël Simeu, and we discuss the themes of identity, home, mental health, and the transformative power of writing. We also reflect on our personal experiences and the significance of the book's structure, emphasizing the importance of breaks and self-care in the reading process.
We talk:
08:49 - The power of writing and memory
15:12 - The structure and style of the memoir
21:02 - The importance of breaks in reading
33:15 - Reflections on mental health and identity
46:47 - The power of vulnerability in healing
01:00:05 - The impact of storytelling and visibility
Episode References:
A Body Made Home by Kai Marshal Green
Ep. 69 - What if Everyone Leads with Love? with Joël Simeu
Ep. 77 - Dem Bois Highlight Series Part 5; with Joël Simeu
Ep. 102 - Navigating Gender Expressions and Expectations with Kai Marshall Green
Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou
Read more about Shawn in his bio below:
Shawn Aaron (he/him) is a Black queer trans man, nonprofit leader, and host of Dem Bois Podcast. He is the Founder + Executive Director of Dem Bois Inc., an organization dedicated to affirming and supporting trans men of color through access to gender-affirming care, health equity, and visibility. Drawing from his lived experience with homelessness, Shawn’s mission is rooted in community care and systemic change. Whether through storytelling or advocacy, his work amplifies the voices of those too often unheard. His signature belief: Visibility = Possibility™
Read more about Joël in his bio below:
Joël Simeu Juegouo is a poet, musician, and griot from Cameroon. His writing is featured in HarperCollins' Here to Stay: Poetry and Prose from the Undocumented Diaspora. And he was selected as 2026 Undocupoet Fellow. Joël has served as manager for Outpost Foundation’s writing residency program and assesses submissions for the program’s fellowship candidates. He also works towards amplifying the voices of transmasculine folks of color, as Production Assistant to Dem Bois, Inc. Simeu earned his M.A. in Literatures in English from Cornell University, where he teaches writing seminars. His doctoral dissertation contends with poetics of Black transmasculine cultural epistemology.
These days find him craving that which is tender and slow. Each day, he strives to become a menace to his enemies and prays for the liberation of all oppressed people. Each day he gives his gorgeous calico, all of his love. Today, and always, he invites you to stay rooted in your breath.
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