Disco didn’t just light up dance floors — it became a symbol of civil disobedience. It gave marginalized communities the rhythm to resist and the freedom to shine.

In this episode, Jeff Illes — advocate, scholar, and beloved voice in the LGBTQIA+ community- joins us to unpack how disco powered a movement for visibility, equality, and joy. Reminding us that music doesn’t just move bodies — it moves history.

Because when the world says “stay still,” disco says: NO WAY!!!— grab your glitter and SHAKE IT UP!! ✨

LET’S BE FRIENDS

• Podcast Website
• Follow us on INSTAGRAM

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

• The Trevor Project
• Trans Equality
• Entertainment Community Fund⁠ – Supporting artists & performers.
• Musicares.org⁠ – Helping musicians stay healthy & thriving.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – You are not alone.
• Mental Health Resources by county – Thanks, Headspace.
• 13 Mental Health Resources That Are Absolutely Free– Thanks, Oprah!

What happens when politicians weaponise fear, transgender lives and people of color instead of fixing potholes? 🔧🛣️💥

It’s called SFARTS™: A satirical PSA exposing how culture wars distract us from actual progress.

Warning: May cause spontaneous smiles, 🤔 critical thinking, and an overdose of fabulousness!

🎧Stay tuned for the next episode.

• Rhythms Of Progress – 🎶 Music, activism, and change!

RESOURCES

1. The Trevor Project
2. Trans Equality
3. Entertainment Community Fund⁠ – Supporting artists & performers.
4. Musicares.org⁠ – Helping musicians stay healthy & thriving.
5. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – You are not alone.
6. Mental Health Resources by county – Thanks, Headspace.

13 Mental Health Resources That Are Absolutely Free – Thanks, Oprah!

Nursery rhymes aren’t just for nap time. Check out how Elise Ruggiero uses a cool tool called the uCue and turns classics like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and “The Wheels on the Bus” into data that’s transforming our understanding of autism.

That’s right—she’s turning playground bangers into scientific breakthroughs. So grab your juice box and press play. Science you can dance to? Yes, please!

- Photo by Eileen Ruggiero

LET’S BE FRIENDS

• Podcast Website
• Follow us on INSTAGRAM

ELISE: SHE’S GOT SKILLS

• Work with Elise!
• Read the uCue Article
• Soundscapes of the Mind
• The uCue

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

• Entertainment Community Fund⁠ – Supporting artists & performers.
• Musicares.org⁠ – Helping musicians stay healthy & thriving.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – You are not alone.
• Mental Health Resources by county – Thanks, Headspace.
• 13 Mental Health Resources That Are Absolutely Free– Thanks, Oprah!

Join Elia Einhorn as he cranks up the volume on resistance and teams with over 100+ cultural icons to outplay fascism, outshine hate, and inspires all of us to keep trans and fundamental rights in the headlines.

(FYI. This episode was recorded post 2024 U.S. election vibes.… and yep, it’s still giving “how is this real life?")

Need some names? You got it!

• Andre 3000
• Jeff Tweedy
• Sam Smith
• Beverly Glenn-Copeland
• Sade
• Fleet Foxes

Listen to the album TRANSA.

FOLLOW US

• Rhythms Of Progress – 🎶 Music, activism, and change!
• Work with Elia Einhorn – He’s got skills!

RESOURCES

1. The Trevor Project
2. Trans Equality
3. Entertainment Community Fund⁠ – Supporting artists & performers.
4. Musicares.org⁠ – Helping musicians stay healthy & thriving.
5. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – You are not alone.
6. Mental Health Resources by county – Thanks, Headspace.
7. 13 Mental Health Resources That Are Absolutely Free– Thanks, Oprah!

🌍 Gratitude and grooves from around the world

A Global Thank You Playlist To Dance To 🌻

🇮🇳 India to 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇯🇵 Japan to 🇵🇭 the Philippines, 🇲🇽 Mexico to 🇺🇸 the U.S.

💃🕺🧑‍🦽🧑‍🦯🧑‍🦼 Dance in whatever way is accessible to you.

🎶 Music reminds us we belong.

— Lizzard & Stoney 🐾 Rhythms of Progress

INSTAGRAM

• Rhythms Of Progress

RESOURCES

• Entertainment Community Fund⁠ – Supporting artists & performers.
• Musicares.org⁠ – Helping musicians stay healthy & thriving.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – You are not alone.
• Mental health resources by county – Thanks, Headspace.
• 13 Mental Health Resources That Are Absolutely Free– Thanks, Oprah!

Anyone can put letters on a page ✍🏾, but heroes show us what we’re afraid to admit while turning our ugly-cry into comedy 😂.

Writers make us feel, and suddenly, our protest signs get really insightful. 🪧

In episode 2 of Rhythms of Progress, host Lizzard and Chisa Hutchinson dig into how plays and screenplays challenge norms, spark movements ⚡, and relabel society’s too-neat little boxes. 📦.📦.

INSTAGRAM

• Rhythms Of Progress

CHISA'S WORK

Amerikin now playing at 59E59 Theaters

Three Women on STARZ

• Shailene Woodley
• Betty Gilpin
• DeWanda Wise

The Subject

• Jason Biggs

COLLABORATE WITH CHISA

• Chisa's Reps

RESOURCES

• Entertainment Community Fund⁠ – Supporting artists & performers.
• Musicares.org⁠ – Helping musicians stay healthy & thriving.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – You are not alone.
• Mental health resources by county – Thanks, Headspace.
• 13 Mental Health Resources That Are Absolutely Free– Thanks, Oprah!

Music: It makes us dance, cry, protest, and occasionally ugly-cry in the car at a red light. But it’s also advocacy. In this first episode of Rhythms of Progress, host Shozzett Silva, aka Lizzard, and guest Journalist Macayla Cook dig into how music challenges norms, sparks movements, and gets artists into hot water when they step outside society’s neat little boxes.

Why do we expect musicians to be political—but only if it won’t ruffle too many feathers?🔥 How does fan culture police activism?🔥 Why has music been one of the only places where men are “allowed” to be vulnerable?

From protest anthems to unexpected tearjerkers, we’re unpacking how music isn’t just a vibe—it’s a revolution.

🎧 Hit play and join the movement!

NOTE:

• This episode was recorded in late September 2024, when we didn't know the presidential outcome; there was hope and sensory overload with political ads. Simpler times.

FOLLOW US

• Rhythms Of Progress – 🎶 Music, activism, and change!
• Macayla Cook’s Journalism – Thought-provoking stories ahead!
• Macayla Cook's LinkedIn – She’s got skills!

RESOURCES

• Entertainment Community Fund⁠ – Supporting artists & performers.
• Musicares.org⁠ – Helping musicians stay healthy & thriving.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – You are not alone.
• Mental health resources by county – Thanks, Headspace.
• 13 Mental Health Resources That Are Absolutely Free– Thanks, Oprah!