Shows
Sad FranciscoBlocking the Golden Gate and Bay BridgesIn 1989, the Golden Gate Bridge was blockaded for the first time by a group of protesters going by the name Stop AIDS Now…or Else! They were sick of their friends dying in a government-facilitated genocide of queer people (the medical industrial complex and corporate media were complicit, too). It wasn't till 2016 that another group of protesters (black.seed) blockaded the Bay Bridge, this time propelled by the Ferguson uprisings and the crisis of Black people dying, especially at the hands of police. And then in 2023 and 2024 the Bay Bridge 78 and Golden Gate 26 blockaded for Gaz...
2025-07-071h 08
Unpacking ZionismCultural Boycott with Mama GanuushIn this episode, we are joined by Mama Ganuush, a Palestinian drag artist and activist, to unpack “Cultural Boycott” as a keyword in Critical Zionism Studies. We discuss San Francisco’s Civic Joy Fund, its Zionist backers, and the joy-washing event the Fund is organizing on April 5 – the Tenderloin Eid Night Market. Mama Ganuush shares the investigative report into San Francisco’s Civic Joy Fund and explains why it is imperative to boycott that Eid event, other Civic Joy Fund’s activities, and all expressions of Zionist culture and propaganda. Mama Ganuush is a Palestinian drag artist, activist, an...
2025-03-3135 min
Drag Me to HeavenDrag for Palestine: Mama Ganuush on Art, Activism, and ResilienceIn this powerful episode of Drag Me To Heaven, I sit down with the groundbreaking Mama Gannush, a drag artist whose work transcends performance to engage with critical social issues. 🖤✨
We explore how Mama Gannush uses her platform to amplify voices and combat injustice, including her advocacy for Palestinian solidarity and raising awareness about the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Drawing from her experiences as an artist and activist, Mama shares the intersection of drag, art, and resistance, showing how drag can be a tool for radical change.
Through her evocative performances and bold political stances, Mama Gannush exemplifies how art can c...
2025-01-0147 min
Sad FranciscoAIPAC Zombies Episode 1: Scott WienerMama Ganuush and Toshio bring you AIPAC Zombies: people in American culture who have been possessed by the worst Zionist brainrot. Our first episode: California politician Scott Wiener. More: "Scott Wiener’s Appalling Legacy as San Francisco Supervisor" (Patrick Range McDonald, Housing is a Human Right) [https://www.housingisahumanright.org/scott-wiener-appalling-legacy-san-francisco-supervisor/] "Gay Neoliberal Candidate in San Francisco Disproves Myths About LGBT Values" (Toshio, Truthout) [https://truthout.org/articles/gay-neoliberal-candidate-in-san-francisco-disproves-myths-about-lgbt-values/]
2025-01-0151 min
Sad FranciscoThank You for Being a Friend in 2024Join Tofu and Toshio on an end of the year, stream-of-consciousness check-in. New episode of Sad Francisco on January 3. AIPAC Zombies with Mama Ganuush premieres January 1. Support us and find links to our past episodes: patreon.com/sadfrancisco
2024-12-2334 min
Sad FranciscoMama Ganuush on Gaza Family, Hunger Striking and Post-Election ReflectionsA check-in with Mama Ganuush where we hear about their recent hunger strike, their visit with family who evacuated Gaza for Egypt, and discuss how US elections are bought and sold by AIPAC. SF Drag Artist Leads Hunger Strike Against US Funding of Israel (Nastia Voynovskaya, KQED) https://www.kqed.org/arts/13967427/sf-drag-artist-leads-hunger-strike-against-us-funding-of-israel Mama Ganuush on Instagram HALA Collective Support us and find links to our past episodes: patreon.com/sadfrancisco
2024-12-0254 min
Sad FranciscoHow Cash Runs Local Politics (Live Salon HALA Show at Brava Theater) f/ Jeremy Mack, Keane Chukwuneta, Mama Ganuush, and Pup ZemblaMama Ganuush hosts a discussion on whether people in the US actually stand a chance under American democracy, when money rules everything around us. Guests from The Phoenix Project (exposing dark money in Bay Area politics) and Pups for Palestine (what it says :) ). Salon HALA will return in 2025. Salon HALA on Instagram The Phoenix Project Zinedogs | Instagram @zinedogssf Support us and find links to our past episodes: patreon.com/sadfrancisco
2024-10-1447 min
TransLash Podcast with Imara JonesGaza and the 2024 ElectionsAs we near the one year anniversary of October 7th, Imara reflects on how the war in Gaza has impacted election politics in the United States. First, she’s joined by a spokesperson for the Uncommitted National Movement, June Rose, who shares their experience as an uncommitted DNC delegate, how their Jewish identity shapes their commitment to Palestinian liberation, and what they’re demanding of the Democratic Party. Next, she’ll talk with trans disability advocate and candidate for Maryland House of Delegates Ly Xīnzhèn Zhǎngsūn (aka Lydia X. Z. Brown) about the difference between voting in...
2024-10-0357 min
Sad FranciscoBay2Gaza Mutual Aid f/ Brooke Lober, Lauren Gutierrez and Mama GanuushMutual aid and relationships with people we trust are gonna be key to surviving the political and climate apocalypses ahead. Brooke, Lauren and Mama Ganuush on Bay2Gaza Mutual Aid, and how to sustain connections with people living through the genocide in Palestine, as the US and Israel do everything they can to repress signals of solidarity. Bay2Gaza Benefit is 9/20 at Oakland Secret https://www.instagram.com/p/C_ggDqUyDoj/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== https://www.Bay2Gaza.org Thank you to LoCura for this episode’s outro track “Guerriller@s (Bang Data re...
2024-09-171h 00
Sad FranciscoZionism at Burning Man (and in Party Culture) f/ Mama GanuushHate to be that bummer podcast, but Zionism has invaded party culture, too. Mama Ganuush discusses Adam Swig, a party promoter from the real estate empire that brought you San Francisco’s posh Fairmont and St. Francis hotels. Next, we talk Israel’s colonization of the Playa, complete with a Nova Music Festival memorial, and a “No donations for Doctors Without Borders” policy at the queer Comfort & Joy camp. More episodes on with Zionist culture-washing: “Civic Joy Brings Sorrow” with Mama Ganuush https://www.patreon.com/posts/civic...
2024-08-2650 min
Sad FranciscoCivic Joy Brings Sorrow f/ Mama GanuushThe Civic Joy Fund is an artwashing front for nefarious causes like Zionism and the Police Officers Association, helmed and funded by sociopaths like Manny Yekutiel of Manny's in the Mission, crypto bro Chris Larsen, and Levi Strauss heir Daniel Lurie. Mama Ganuush on the boycott directed at the aforementioned rich guys and the milquetoast art they're funding. HALA Collective - Mama Ganuush-founded artist collective (Toshio is a member) https://www.mamaganuush.com/hala Our episode with Deeg on the Anti-Zionist Boycott of Manny's https://www.patreon.com/posts/anti-zionist-of-106162019?utm...
2024-07-2932 min
Sad FranciscoPinkwashing Genocide f/ Brooke Lober, Deeg, and Mama GanuushSad Francisco fam Brooke Lober (Jewish Voice for Peace Bay Area), Deeg (Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism), and Mama Ganuush on why Zionists started putting rainbow flags on tanks destroying Gaza, and the Bay Area roots of Brand Israel’s gay hasbara campaign. Recorded June 27, 2024 at the Queer & Trans Artists for a Free Palestine closing at SOMArts, hosted by the BLOOM Collective. Palestinian queer group alQaws: “Reflecting on Queerness in Times of Genocide” Mama Ganuush on queers for Palestine, and Trans Black Palestinian Solidarities Deeg on the Manny’s in the Mission boycott...
2024-07-191h 07
Sad FranciscoTrans Black Palestinian Solidarities f/ Jemma DeCristo, LaVelle Ridley and Mama Ganuush (May Live Show)For our first live show taping in May, Jemma DeCristo, LaVelle Ridley, and Mama Ganuush spoke brilliantly on Trans Black-Palestinian Solidarity amidst the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Naturally, given the topic, things got emotional. Thanks to everyone who made the night possible! Jemma Decristo currently holds the record for most appearances on Sad Francisco! Her repertoire includes the episodes "Is the Transgender District a Force for Liberation or Gentrification?" and "Hot Cop of the Castro" This was LaVelle Ridley's debut episode; she will return! Mama Ganuush (the episode with Mama Ganuush fro...
2024-06-1049 min
Sad FranciscoQueens of the Intifada, Part 2 f/ Lady BunnyWell-known drag artists have been using their platforms to combat the genocide in Gaza since last October. In part two, Lady Bunny takes on virtue signaling politicians, and describes her suspicions around the viral photo with her name written on an IDF missile. Check part one for Nicki Jizz, host of locally beloved drag night Reparations, who explains how politics and drag mix. And our recent episode with Bay Area-based Palestinian drag artist Mama Ganuush. "Meet the Drag Artists Using Their Platforms to Combat the Genocide in Gaza" (Truthout) Lady Bunny...
2024-03-3147 min
Sad FranciscoQueens of the Intifada, Part 1 f/ Nicki Jizz Well-known drag artists have been using their platforms to combat the genocide in Gaza since last October. In this first part, Nicki Jizz, host of locally beloved drag night Reparations, explains how politics and drag mix. Check part two for Lady Bunny, who talks about virtue signaling politicians, and describes her suspicions around the viral photo with her name written on an IDF missile. And our recent episode with Bay Area-based Palestinian drag artist Mama Ganuush. "Meet the Drag Artists Using Their Platforms to Combat the Genocide in Gaza" (Truthout) Nicki...
2024-03-3114 min
Sad FranciscoWe're Queer, We're Trans, No Peace on Stolen Land f/ Mama GanuushMama Ganuush is an African Palestinian American drag artist living in San Francisco. Right now, they're combining direct action, performances, and Bay solidarity to combat Israel's campaign of cultural erasure and colonization - a campaign led locally by gay Israel subs Matt Dorsey, Rafael Mandelman, and Scott Wiener. Mama Ganuush on Instagram Heritage Anti-Racist Liberation Artists (HALA) - their new artists' collective! Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism Gay Shame BDS Movement BBC News: "McDonald's hit by Israel-Gaza 'misinformation'" Recent episodes on Palestine: Can't Hide a Genocide f/ Dylan Rodriguez and Loubna Qutami Queers for a Free Palestine...
2024-01-1132 min
Drag & SpiritualityT for Transformation: Religion. Relapse. Remission. - Keynote Mama Ganuush at Drag & Spirituality Summit 2023Streamed live on Oct 14, 2023
Mama Ganuush is a survivor who has overcome multiple traumas, including religious trauma, conversion therapy, rape trauma, and the weight of African heritage and intergenerational Palestinian genocide. As a Queer activist and refugee, they found sanctuary in the Bay Area and discovered the empowering world of drag, which helped them confront gender dysphoria and build a loving chosen family. MamaGanuush established House Ganuush, a haven for acceptance, and actively contributes to the Queer arts scene through events like Vocal AF. In addition to their successful career in marketing and technology, they serve as...
2023-11-1324 min