Voices Up

09/20/2025

Tune in to Voices Up on WSLR 96.5 FM this Monday, Sept. 22 at 9 AM!
We’re thrilled to welcome Camilo Loaiza Bonilla (he/him/él) — a q***r, trans, first-generation immigrant writer and visual artist whose work weaves poetry, art, and identity to break through generational silence.
Camilo’s writing has been supported by Macondo Writer’s Workshop, Tin House, and Black Lawrence Press, and published in Tupelo Quarterly, Frontier Poetry, Hayden’s Ferry Review, and more. He is the 2025–2026 Eleanor Merritt Fellow at The Ringling and the inaugural Poet-in-Residence at HCC Art Galleries. Next summer, his solo exhibition Raíces/Roots will open at UTampa’s Scarfone/Hartley Gallery.
Don’t miss this conversation exploring creativity, culture, and q***r/trans artistry.
📻 Listen live on 96.5 FM or stream at WSLR.org.

05/18/2025

🎙️ This Week on Voices Up on .5

We’re thrilled to welcome Katherine Bzura to the show!

Katherine is an Assistant Professor of Art History at State College of Florida, with over 15 years of experience guiding students and empowering creatives. She blends art with business, culture, and education—bringing a dynamic voice to everything she does.

✨ Co-leader of SCF’s Faculty-Led Academic Coaching initiative
🎨 Board Member at SPAACES Sarasota
📸 Former VP of an aerial photography company
🎤 Podcast host, concert promoter, political strategist, and artist consultant
🏆 Transformed a historic Ybor Heights grocery store into an award-winning art space

Tune in as we explore her journey, her passion for visual communication, and how she’s shaping the next generation of artists and changemakers.

📻 Choices Up Radio
📅 [Insert date & time]
📍 WSLR 96.5 FM | wslr.org

04/06/2025

We have a special guest on Monday morning 9am.
Be sure to tune in.

Eska Palmer (b. 1986, New Brunswick, Canada) has spent more than 20 years capturing photographic art and over 10 years teaching Photography. Palmer holds a Master’s in Art Education and a Master’s in Fine Art for Photography. Eska received mentorship from Guggenheim fellow Zig Jackson- the first Native American to have photographic works of art in the Library of Congress. During her MFA at Savannah College of Art and Design she also worked as an Assistant Professor alongside Ansel Adam’s right-hand man, Tom Fischer. Her work has been featured in hundreds of online publications, local and national galleries, and exhibited in Florida museums such as the Ringling Museum (Sarasota), the Frost Museum (Miami) and the Rubell museum (Miami). Currently, Palmer runs the Photographic Technologies Department at the State College of Florida as a full time Professor and the Program Manager. In November, Palmer was awarded a $277,861$ Perkins EUM Technology Grant for her program. Eska has set up comfortable areas around the photography department designated as “Safe Spaces” for students from the LGBTQ+ community. Eska works closely with her students to advise and assist with scholarships, broadening the gap of accessibility. Eska also serves the community as an exceptional student education educator and reading specialist for the non-profit, Sarasota Cooperative Learning Project. Eska lives in Sarasota with her partner, Elisabeth, and their 22 month-old daughter, Ruth.

03/09/2025

Monday morning tune in with us as we talk with Travis Ray. 9am on .5
Travis Ray is the Founder/CEO of handcrafted bow tie and accessory brand, Dapper Bowtique®. Ray or “Dapper” as his friends call him is a proud TEDx Bradenton Speaker. He has earned the “Agent of Success Award from Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, “Rising Star Award” from the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, “40 under 40” with the Business Observer, and “Entrepreneur of the Year” with Manasota Honors. Ray is an alumni of the Start Up Circle and 26 West Center’s entrepreneurship programs.

Ray volunteers his time at Visible Men Academy, AMIKids, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Marwine Organization, Inc. and recently served on the board of directors for Realize Bradenton. He is a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Ray holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Management/Arts Administration from The University of Alabama, Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Performance from Alabama State University and a host of certifications including a Directing Intensive at Yale University. Ray is a proud husband, doggy dad, and community leader in Sarasota/Manatee County.

02/24/2025

Join us Monday, February 24th at 9am | Christina Armani grew up on the outskirts of San Francisco in the 80’s when the AIDS epidemic started. Being gay, le***an or trans was looked down upon and at that time it was legal to discriminate.

I moved to New York at the age of 18 and lived there for 10 years. I worked as a bartender and performer while winning many National pageants including Miss Gay NY USofA.

At 28 I moved to Orlando, Florida after being hired at the world famous Parliament House where I worked for 8 years. During that time I won the most prestigious patient for trans people, Miss Continental. While working there I became very involved with AIDS WALK ORLANDO, Hope & Help foundation and in 2008 raised more money than any other individual for AIDS WALK ORLANDO and was given a “key to the city!”

I visited Sarasota for the first time in 2015 and instantly fell in love with the city. Like many, I felt the peace, tranquility, and the slow relaxed feeling of anonymity in a less well known place. A week later moved to town. Although Sarasota is no longer a secret, I’ve found the place I call home. As a trans woman and advocate for the lgbtq community, I took part of a trial study and I was the 1st trans woman to take part in this study that administers a shot only twice a year that prevent HIV. Combining my years of experience in customer service and love of travel, I’ve found my place in the world by being an advocate, a mentor and a leader for her lgbtq+ community around the world while working as a flight attendant—Proving that although I’m not your “traditional woman” I refuse to be held down by the rules of my traditional beginnings and showing that the sky is the limit for all of us!
Tune in link in bio. Go to www.wslr.org tune in af 9am Monday morning.

01/27/2025

Welcome
Jordan Maxwell Beutel,
Contemporary Visual Artist
Jordan was born in Indiana and grew up in a family that encouraged authenticity and embraced being weird. He was introduced to the arts at a very young age and discovered how to express himself through various mediums.
Even though he grew up in this environment, he allowed society to oppress his identity for most of his life. Feeling lost, he embarked on a mental health journey in August 2020. At that time his goal was to understand himself and why he was struggling to find happiness.
Through this journey, he discovered that allowing society to oppress his true identity into hiding caused the discourse in his life. The inability to be authentic had spliced his identity and caused overwhelming depression, anxiety, and self-hatred. The only way to heal was to speak his truth.
In April of 2021, he said the words for the first time, “I am Trans”. These three words unlocked the euphoric happiness he had always heard of and never experienced for himself. Coming out and being visible has created a fire within him to vocalize the importance of Trans Visibility and Authenticity.
Jordan’s art and poetry became his expression of the emotions he was feeling during his fight for authenticity. He expresses fear, euphoria, distortion of perception, audacity, and his quest for self-actualization. When words cannot express the essence, he turns to art. When he is pondering he uses art to evoke his emotions through shapes and colors. He often brings the two together in a full visual immersion of his transition.
Jordan has now founded his brand Riptide Zen to share his vulnerability through visual arts and poetry. His art is created in the present and he hopes to evoke empowerment and confidence in his viewers. Riptide Zen is ever-evolving and Jordan plans to incorporate new mediums as well as publish his writing and poetry.
Jordan believes that every person has an internal struggle to find authenticity due to the societal constructs we are taught to believe. He is bringing visibility to the spectrum of human existence and reminding everyone that their expression is valid because it is theirs.

Tune in

12/17/2024

IG isn’t posting onto fb by accident so if you missed our wonderful show, well If you want to listen to our show Voices Up with Jules Rayne our guest, with myself and Andrew Ensign please go to the archive page on WSLR’s site.

https://archive.wslr.org/?qtajax=true

Look for 9am show Monday December 16th

We will have Jules back on around March to inform us of what to expect and how we together can be the change we need.

08/23/2024

05/20/2024

Special thanks to and for another show. Loved connecting with music and conversation and hoping you tuned in, if not check out the archive link in bio. — Voices up radio, where every voice matters.

01/19/2024

Join us every other Monday starting January 29th from 9am-10am for our LGBTQ+ radio show! Delve into vibrant discussions on policies, the intersection of arts and politics, and celebrate community leaders. Tune in to be inspired, uplift others, and embrace meaningful engagement. Let's make a difference together!

01/17/2024

"Voices Up! on WSLR 96.5FM in Sarasota, Florida, is more than just a radio show; it's a dynamic platform amplifying LGBTQ+ voices and perspectives. Through insightful talk radio, we aim to educate, inspire, and spark crucial conversations within our community. Our focus extends to politics, encouraging engagement and support for those who are speaking out. We seamlessly blend the worlds of music and politics, exploring the intersection of arts and activism. Join us as we uplift Q***r, Trans, and BIPOC voices, providing a space where diverse narratives thrive and resonate. Welcome to Voices Up!—where every voice matters."