Nava Mau on the Visibility and Vulnerability of the Trans Community
Who's with Me? with W. Kamau BellPlay episode
Show notes
W. Kamau Bell talks with actress and filmmaker Nava Mau about Baby Reindeer, her short films, being a trans woman in Hollywood, and the pull of Oakland.
Kamau opens up the show by giving Nava her flowers, praising her performance in Baby Reindeer, her advocacy, and her public presence.
He warmly reviews All The Words But The One, a short film she wrote, directed, and acted in, which hit the festival circuit right when she broke out in Baby Reindeer. It's a work that delves deep into past traumas and relationships.
Nava discusses growing up in Mexico City and San Antonio, her struggle with body image, and the importance of seeing trans actors of all shapes and sizes on screen. She also reveals her childhood alter ego, the fabulous "Christina Escalante".
Kamau and Nava talk about the current state of the entertainment industry and the brief period of time when Hollywood seemed open to trans, queer, and brown representation. They vent about the confusion and cost of streaming consolidations, including convoluted app structures, free‑trial cancellations, and sports fans needing multiple services. They also touch on Dave Chappelle's insistence on writing jokes about trans people.
The topic turns to Oakland, a place where Nava feels at home and has experienced some of the best years of her life.
Support Level Ground, an artist incubator supporting black, brown, queer, and trans voices at levelground.co, and support the TransLatin@ Coalition at translatinacoalition.org
Chapters:
(00:00) Flowers for Nava
(09:44) All the Words But the One
(21:23) Representation, Identity, and Visibility
(30:18) Post-Baby Reindeer Entertainment Industry
(45:42) Dave Chappelle and Accountability
(01:00:31) Oakland and Finding Home
(01:05:55) Charity Shout Outs
Who's With Me is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Chris Dowd. Part of the Pushkin Network.
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