TOPICS FOR TODAY INCLUDE:
- How Trump’s federal funding freeze is beginning to affect Austin
- City issuing big fines for parking - what you need to know
- What does the economic data really say about DEI and business?
- Plus! Fun Facts with Fiona!
Welcome to the Austin LGBT Chamber Podcast where we chat all things local and national business. Join Tina, Colton, Amy and Fiona every Friday.
Meet your hosts: austinlgbtbiz.com/staff
Be sure to check out past episodes: austinlgbtbiz.com/podcast
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Find a local LGBTQ+ (and allied) business: austinlgbtbiz.com/directory
Join us at an upcoming event: austinlgbtbiz.com/events
Questions? Comments? Want to be a guest? Want to sponsor? Email us at info@austinlgbtchamber.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome to the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce podcast. I'm Tina Cannon, your host and CEO
(00:15):
of the Chamber. On today's pod, we're going to talk about local business news in the headlines
this week, how Trump's federal funding freeze is affecting Austin and the city is about
ready to issue big old fines for parking what you need to know. What does the economic
data really say about DEI? We'll be right back.
(00:44):
Howdy all. Hey, hello.
Hi, Colton Fiona and Amy.
I felt like I was in trouble.
I was like, Oh, God, what I do Colton Ray Colton Ray.
Yeah, I like it. Is that for real? Your middle name? Yes. Oh my God.
(01:09):
I feel like you need to say it with like a cigarette dangling from your lip. You know,
in the front yard, Kentucky waterfall.
I was named after my grandfather who was Raymond and then my uncle's Ray Dale.
Very glad I skipped out on that. Yeah. Ray Dale, Ray Dale Colton Ray is better.
Colton Ray. That's great. That's great.
(01:34):
What's the weekend haps now that we've got a change of plans?
Fun things to do breaking news. Small town big pride postponed. Yeah.
It's cold y'all. Too cold for Armadillos.
Way too cold. Yeah, we'll get to that in the event session.
What do y'all have on tab anything? What's going on your lives?
(01:57):
No, that was my plan. Share with the share with the folks out there.
I figured that I would get all the clothing that needs stitching that I keep saying,
oh, I should fix that. I should fix that.
And I'm just going to get a needle and thread out and so holes like the hole I have in my sweater.
Right here. I just fell asleep. I'm sorry.
What? That sounds terrible.
My plans aren't changing too much like location. Yes.
(02:21):
But I still would like to have a drink and just chill.
Agreed. Not outside. Yeah, that would be nice.
It's going to be bloody freezing. Why is anyone going to leave?
Why they make mugs?
That's all whiskey's for. Yeah, it's medicinal.
That's probably what I will do this weekend.
And now that I've put a kitchen together,
recovered from my head injury that I obtained.
(02:44):
That's right. Yeah, should see the other guy.
Oh, man. Amy took a tumble.
Don't try to shuffle across your bedroom floor,
your vinyl bedroom floor with wet feet.
Oh, yeah.
There's some staff around like household accidents.
Right. Well, I got to spend Monday, my day off in the ER.
(03:07):
Getting all the tests done.
It's good. It's a good way to celebrate President's Day.
Yeah. Yeah. Try and take myself out.
We had a little Airbnb in Wimbledon that tried to kill me on a routine basis.
I had a concussion from it.
Well, man, it's not fun. It's such a strange like recovery.
(03:29):
Yeah, because you're fuzzy for a couple days.
Oh, yeah. I wish I knew how long I was out.
Do you know, like, were you out out?
Um, I was pretty out of it because I somehow crawled into bed.
I do remember the least sexy noise leaving my body when I hit the floor.
I'd sounded like an 80 year old man who had just been punched in the diaphragm.
(03:56):
It was just like, oh, I'm so sad.
I would have been like from the living room.
You and a towel. Turn it off.
Well, plus I was like shuffling quickly because my pajamas were already on my bed.
And so I was like, you know, in a towel.
Waddling. Yeah, it was bad. It was not cute at all. It was very ungraceful.
(04:20):
So I got knocked out. I came, I was looking.
We had a little loft in a little Airbnb.
So the bed was up higher on a little riser kind of and then underneath was storage.
So I grabbed some things as storage and I came out from underneath the bed and I normally just kind of pop up and I hit the.
Oh, geez.
I hit the freaking beam above it.
Woke up with my eyeglass. That was back when I was wearing glasses.
What goes my eyeglasses? I kind of like across the room, a bigopilot drool and my face kind of stuck to the new flooring.
(04:47):
I'm like, how long have I been here?
Kind of scary, right?
I'm kind of hungry. So I feel like it's been a while.
Yeah, like, ah, man.
And even like the recovery period, like they say, don't, don't stay alone.
Oh, yeah.
And I live alone.
Like, what am I going to do?
Stay at your neighbor's.
(05:08):
You're like, hey, sup.
I live at the bar now.
Yeah. Well, needless to say, the ice capades are not in my future.
Sadly.
No, no.
Oh my God.
Well, I hope you get to feeling better soon.
So Trump's federal funding freeze.
Oh my God, I said his name on the podcast.
(05:30):
Voldemort.
Voldemort.
According to our friends at the Austin Monitor, they did a report talking about the local impact to Austin.
Around some of these federal freezes.
So a memo from Austin's Intergovernmental Relations Office talks about a couple of things that might be impacted.
The city gets about 1.2 billion in federal funds through various grants.
(05:51):
Those include things like the transportation projects we've got going on.
I-35 expansion mitigation efforts, safe streets for all.
Barton Springs bridge replacements, something within public health service,
39 million in federal funds for essential services, including vaccinations, TB clinics,
which is on the rise again, preventative screenings, nutritional support for women and children,
(06:14):
UT Austin's anticipating financial losses due to limitations on reimbursements for research on bio med projects.
So it's been back and forth in the courts.
It's been stopped and forwarded, stopped, forwarded.
There's so many people going, what the...
I mean, we're Texas.
I thought we'd be exempt from all of these federal cuts.
(06:37):
That doesn't count for us, does it?
Yeah.
If you would think.
It's amazing how many people are like, oh wait, this impacts me.
Not just those others.
Those others who are like me.
Yeah.
It's going to be an interesting time.
We'll have to see how people react to this and hopefully learn.
(06:59):
Maybe show up and vote.
I can't keep up.
I just can't keep up at all.
There's been like 100 EO executive orders.
Yeah.
And most of them are unconstitutional or just flat out illegal.
Yeah.
And then on top of that, they're confusing.
They're cutting out the team that's doing the bird flu.
Hello.
Yeah.
(07:20):
They cut out the team that's got the code to the nuclear reactors.
Hello.
That's going to make egg prices go down a lot.
I mean, if I'm a foreign country and I hate the United States,
this is like prime targeting time right now.
I could send in all kinds of missiles and kamikaze airplanes right now.
Right.
Because like nobody in the federal government knows what's going on.
But at least we're becoming besties with Russia.
(07:42):
So there's that.
That's right.
I mean, screw you, Europe and NATO.
Yeah.
Just give them Ukraine.
Just kind of sweep it there.
Shift the entire planet.
I feel like we're getting closer and closer to all those TV shows center out there.
Like Silo and Severance.
Actually, I would kind of welcome Severance right now.
(08:04):
Yeah.
Save.
You can just, you know, run real fast after a shower with no shoes on.
And slip and try taking.
Turn it off like a light switch.
Yeah.
Turn it off.
Yeah.
There's that too.
I thought you were going to keep singing.
Oh, no.
I think they've heard that one.
Yes.
These cuts are having consequences.
(08:25):
So let your elected officials at the federal level know that, you know, you like for people
to have, you know, healthcare and screenings and you don't want diseases going around.
Like the measles.
You would like to be able to have I-35 expansion redone.
You would like to have dilapidated bridges repaired here in town.
Like that would be great.
But we can't do all that one.
(08:46):
Just local taxes alone.
It does take all of us.
Wowie.
Our friends at the Austin Monarch also reporting about a new city council rules unanimously
voted to approve prohibitive parking in bike lanes.
Yeah.
(09:07):
Visitors, violators, sorry.
Violators are going to face fines from 50 to 300 bucks.
They are concerned about like food delivery and rideshare services that have been obstructing
bike lanes and forcing cyclists into traffic.
So there will be a little bit of a reprieve a couple of months to, or a couple of weeks
(09:28):
to kind of study the process, to educate the public and then see what we can do to improve
curbside spaces for deliveries.
But I'm here for it.
Oh, thank goodness.
I hate these twats that park in the bike lane on South Congress.
Oh, yeah.
I get road rage so bad on South Congress.
On your bike.
(09:49):
I'm not even riding a bike, but I'm pissed that someone will park in the bike lane and
then all the bikes and scooters are just not looking and going right in front of you.
Or people that don't know how to signal that they want to park and back in to park.
Oh, you know, who's going to really feel it is up by the domain at the, at the stadium,
(10:13):
at Q2 stadium.
Oh, because they put in a bunch of new bike lanes out there and there's just not enough
parking.
There's not drop off space up there.
So you get like the TNCs will drop near the stadium, but that's in a bike lane.
Well, I'm just meeting people who drive themselves and park over by Topgolf and that's all been
(10:34):
striped for bike lanes now.
Yeah.
But, um, oh, the whole, the entire, it's probably like 400 yards.
Yeah.
Lined with cars.
Yeah.
Just team.
There's a train that goes there and there's parking rides by these train stations.
Right.
Just start thinking differently about how you move about the city and quit parking in the
(10:55):
bike lanes.
It drives me.
I will like be on my bike and I'm not, I'm going to get shot one day for many reasons,
but like I was, I am that bicycle bicyclist that will like right up next to the car that's
in there and be like on their window.
Oh my God.
No way.
Yeah.
Especially like when we're biking to work and you go in Congress and people park in that
(11:17):
bike lane or they stop and they've got the warning.
Cause they've got to go to Royal blue and get their coffee.
So annoying.
And yeah, I, but I dare not put him bang on the window.
I just tried to give them a very, a silly English, you know, scow.
I'm over 50.
I don't care.
I just give the thumbs down.
I don't even give like the bird.
I'm just like, boo.
(11:38):
You suck at this.
Sometimes thumbs down is more effective.
It is like you just, you're just like, boo man.
Like that's, uh, you're real bad at this.
You need practice.
Yeah.
I'm glad.
I'm glad to see more bike lanes.
Number one.
And I'm glad to see the council voting unanimously on this one.
But at the same time too, right from a, the delivery folks, like there,
(12:03):
we do need to do a better job when they're designing new spaces, especially.
It drives me bananas when there's like a new hotel or a new thing.
And there's like no room for people to pull into or these residential,
like there's one down the way from us that where that man eats is.
And there's nowhere for anybody to pull into like a curb cut to drop
(12:24):
something off or to pick up somebody that lives there.
So they are kind of forced out on the street somewhere.
So I think it's, it's gotta be a part of like how we start building our city.
And the wine hotel.
Caesar's Chavez in Congress.
Yeah.
That's scary.
It's a horrible driveway.
I, I will say like coming in from the East side, it's real nice.
(12:45):
Okay.
Like the bike lane is nowhere near the street.
It's very intentional.
It kind of weaves through from the bus depot all the way out at like the junction
of Seventh, Fifth and Caesar Chavez.
Yeah.
And it just, once you finally get on the lane, it like goes in and out of hotels
and yeah, it's not a ton of road use.
(13:09):
We took a bike ride the other day when it was nice, that little patch of weather
that was good and jumped on from like somewhere downtown somewhere.
I forget where we popped in.
We just popped in by the, the Hyatt.
That's where it was.
And then cruise down, took that little boardwalk.
Really cute.
Went all the way out, ended up down by Pleasant Valley.
Had no idea.
We were all the way at Pleasant Valley.
(13:31):
And like, so it's just, it's nice to have options.
Did you wave at me when you passed by my apartment?
I did.
Yeah, we did actually.
Yeah.
And then we were so surprised by some of the kind of older apartments that are still
there that have like all these kayaks lined up behind them.
That's a cool place to live right there and have your little kayak and go in the water.
Living the Austin Dream, man.
(13:53):
It's all right, all right, all right.
So there was an amazing opinion piece and editorial piece in the Austin statesman the
other day.
Who wrote it?
CEO and president of the Austin Chamber.
Yours truly, I wrote a little ditty.
Talking about the impacts of DEI and the economic advantages.
(14:14):
So take a look at the report.
There's some great links to some of the actual data around it.
So for example, 2020 McKinsey and Company report indicated that companies with diverse
population or diverse supply chains experience 15 to 30% increase in revenue.
There's another study, 2022 by Deloitte that found that 57% of consumers prefer to purchase
(14:37):
from businesses that actively promote diversity.
It has an impact on consumer employee expectations, modern consumers and employees increasingly
demanding inclusivity among Gen Z.
76% state that a company's diversity efforts influence influences their purchasing decisions
and companies that retract DEI commitments risk damaging their brand and reputation.
(15:01):
There's an impact on Austin's growth.
Moving away from these initiatives really undermine the city's economic resilience.
We contribute as a community about 1.7 trillion to the US economy.
So this is not the time to retreat from your stances on DEI, but this is more of a push to really
include diversity into your normal business strategies and really not having to call it out as a special thing.
(15:26):
Just make it a part of what you do.
We can find out more on all those links to the studies at the statesman.
Search yours truly by name and you'll see the article pop up.
And it's on LinkedIn too, isn't it?
Posted on LinkedIn, Colton.
It is.
I think that with DEI I am looking forward to seeing how we're going to be more innovative
(15:47):
and bring new ways to do DEI into the workplace.
And one way that a corporation can uplift DEI is by becoming a member of the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
Amazing.
Yeah, that's the fact.
Because a 2024 study found that 64% of small businesses familiar with their, excuse me, 64% of respondents in a survey
(16:10):
familiar with their local chamber, they're more likely to purchase goods and services from a business they know and is a chamber member.
So chambers promote business of all sizes and all different ways.
And we love our corporate sponsors and we feel sad for those corporate sponsors that haven't yet joined us.
Right, if you were out there and your logo is not on our page.
(16:31):
So you really need to examine yourself.
Yeah, no, but we really do provide that connection for both the folks who are shopping or looking to do business with.
They check out our directory.
We connect them, the larger corporations with certified LGBT owned companies and a myriad of other educational opportunities.
But it's, this is not a time to back out.
(16:52):
Honestly, it's a competitive advantage really at this point.
I think the kind of the flag waving virtue signaling to the orange guy is coming to a quick ending and companies like Apple and Costco and a couple other big brands are like,
No, piss off.
We're going to stay exactly where we are.
We know there's data around that we know this is good for business.
(17:13):
Shareholders are suing companies that have started to retract going show us the financial standing for this.
What was the financial decision in this?
Yeah.
So bottom line, don't fuck it up anymore.
Dei and join your chamber.
And that's a great segue to our new section.
(17:34):
Fun facts with Fiona.
Oh my gosh, it's lighting me up.
Okay, so this week I decided to take the theme of a freeze and move it from federal funding freeze to freezing cold weather.
So the fun fact is, did you know that Antarctica, which is the coldest place on earth, hosted its first ever pride celebration in 2018?
(18:03):
A group of LGBTQ plus scientists and researchers stationed at Mc, mc, mido station decided to throw a pride party, even though it was freezing temperatures.
There wasn't even any daylight.
There's an iconic photo you can look up.
And of course this station in Antarctica primarily supports climate studies, glaciology, astrophysics and marine biology and 10 out of the roughly 113 people working out there identify as LGBTQIA plus.
(18:33):
That's exciting.
But now they're probably all fired.
I was wondering, all things.
Well, I mean, this was 2018 during the first, you know, present and like thing.
In normal times.
No, I mean, no, but like the guy was president.
Yeah, you didn't reach Antarctica at that time.
He probably thought it was like somebody's aunt.
(18:54):
He didn't know it was like an actual thing.
Probably don't know where Antarctica is exactly.
And for those who want to know, it's south of New Zealand.
It's stationed on Ross Island about 2,415 miles south of Christchurch, New Zealand and 850 miles from the South Pole.
That would be a really cold, right?
(19:16):
You imagine how many chops.
Definitely the leather community sitting this one out.
Oh boy.
That's a good fun fact.
Thanks.
Oh my goodness.
We're going to switch over and find out about our members.
We have a ton of members in our chamber and you too can become a member.
(19:41):
Let's give a little shout out to some of our new members.
Yeah, we have three new members.
Temple Beth Shalom.
Welcome.
More than just temple also a place to gather and, you know, reflect on some education.
(20:03):
I can never remember the name of the book that it's like a it's not it's anyway.
Podcast fail.
Yeah, I can never.
It's not there.
Not the Holy book, but the other one.
The it's like a book of educational stories and like values to live by.
It's not anything to do with scripture or prayer.
(20:25):
Yeah, which is great.
I love that they have like a whole community center.
Yes.
So two small town big pride members.
We have Chaperrill coffee.
Lovely.
And yes, self-explanatory.
And cult of happy.
A new art gallery on the square of Lockhart.
Yeah.
Cult.
(20:46):
Cult of happy.
Oh, my son's like, that's kind of cute.
Yeah.
The new music is that is something.
Just trying to break it up.
It really like completes.
I think it just kind of throws me off a little bit because I'm like, what is happening here?
It makes me feel even more that we're in a fish aquarium.
(21:07):
Yeah.
But it's like that background music and like video games.
Yeah.
Like when you're on the dashboard and you're trying to pick out your avatar, like, I love it.
Okay.
What do you got for events?
I'm not going to give you any music then.
Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
(21:28):
Well, first and foremost, our small town big pride.
No.
Small town big pride trip to Lockhart has been postponed due to a lot of people.
It's been postponed due to weather.
But that means it's going to be bigger, better and probably more businesses too to visit.
(21:49):
Yes.
We've already had a couple sign on since.
Yeah.
And we won't be freezing.
Yeah.
It'll be March people will be coming off of South by high.
They'll want to go outside.
It'll be a bigger crowd.
More, more friends to make.
Book your calendar for March 29th for small town.
And that's two days before a transgender day of visibility.
(22:10):
So we'll be able to weave that into potentially.
Yes.
And the seats on the bus are filling up very quickly.
So if you would like to ride the bus with us, go ahead and register now.
If you already purchased your bus ticket.
Yes.
Don't worry about it.
You will be able to get on the bus with that same ticket for March 29th.
If you're not able to make it, please email Amy and we'll get it taken care of for you.
(22:33):
Yeah.
On February 27th, we will be officially welcoming hope rising public health to the Austin LGBT
Chamber.
You can join us at data labs.
There is no need to RSVP for this event.
Just come hang out with us and Dr.
Ash.
There will be an interactive art installation refreshments and more.
Are you ready for South by Southwest?
(22:57):
Really?
If you know, Keras Wisher personally, please.
You know, Keras at Austin LGBT Chamber.com.
Yes.
You can find us at the 12th annual big queer kickoff party at rain on fourth on March 7th.
We will also have a discussion on the power of intersectional queer storytelling on March 8th
(23:19):
at Gina's on Congress.
Great South by lineup.
You can also register for our upcoming luncheon on March 5th at Hampton Inn home to sweets
on the east side.
Yes.
It's two hotels in one.
They share a building.
And it's a real cute building.
It's really cute and funky, like, you know, fun colors kind of pop arty.
(23:44):
Yeah.
That's great.
It's going to be a good time.
Be sure to check the calendar for all the details RSVP signing up all that stuff.
Perfect.
And then on March 25th, we will have our day at the Capitol with the Texas LGBTQ chambers
of commerce.
Registration for that event should be opening very, very soon.
(24:08):
But we will also have a reception the day before for those of you who are not familiar
with the Texas LGBTQ plus chambers of commerce that is Austin LGBT Chamber, San Antonio,
Houston and North Texas as well.
Don't be scared.
Don't be scared of going up to the legislature.
Here's your, here's my little tip.
Guys named Bubba.
When Bubba Ray go up there all the time and hell, half of them get elected.
(24:32):
So if they can do it, you can do it and we'll be right there with you.
We make it easy for you.
We do.
I was scared last time.
I promise it's easy.
Super easy.
Don't be scared.
I kind of find it fun.
It's like a scavenger hunt.
Yeah.
Here's your, you know, here's your little list.
Go out and find these offices.
We'll put you with a buddy that knows what they're doing and have your impact, have your say,
(24:55):
have your voice heard.
And we've got lots of member events coming up to one of those.
If you would like to be a pro for our advocacy day at the Capitol, equality, Texas is having
their all in for equality day the day before ours.
So you can go to the Capitol with them and then go with us again the next day.
Also in member events, we have Austin Pride Toastmasters weekly transmask and trans femme
(25:22):
workouts at Outwellness, South by Southwest Conference and Festival Leadership Austin
conference coming up very soon and it's Hack Perlman in recital at the Long Center.
Lots of events on there.
Go to AustinLGBTChamber.com.
If you just heard that listen, you go, what is a toast master?
Because you may be of a different generation that didn't grow up around that.
(25:45):
It is a wonderful way to get yourself to be more confident as a public speaker.
Yeah.
Join that group, pop in, don't feel bad, like everybody's there to learn how to be a better
public speaker as I just fumble the word better.
But it gives you confidence to stand up there, confidence to make it through a mistake,
(26:06):
confidence to keep going and learn what your little ticks are that you might not know.
Oh yeah.
The fact that I have not been forced to go to one of these yet blows my mind.
I say, we had to do that in theater too.
We had like a whole week on just monologues and getting the feedback on what you do is
(26:29):
so weird, like and then hearing yourself and reading the feedback you're like, oh boy.
Monologues were always easier for me because I'm not being myself.
So like I had something happening inside my head that was not freaking out.
Oh, you mean like a script?
Yeah.
This is like improv kind of stuff where they would give you a topic and then you just had
(26:50):
to go for five minutes.
Love it.
Yeah.
Let's do it.
We need a group improv class.
Who owns an improv studio out there that wants to host us in class and then we'll put on
a show.
I took an improv class in New York City in 2013.
Oh, wow.
Oh, it's terrifying.
I love them.
I think they're hysterical.
(27:13):
I'm more of a no and person.
Not a yes and.
Wow.
I mean.
Well, as always, thanks for joining us.
If you want to learn more about becoming a member of the Chamber of our events, visit
us at AustinLGBTChamber.com.
If you want to be a guest or a sponsor, email us at info at AustinLGBTChamber.com.
(27:34):
Check out our show every Friday, wherever you get your podcasts.
Be sure to follow us.
Thanks and we'll talk next time.
Welcome to the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce podcast. I'm Tina Cannon, your host and CEO
(00:15):
of the Chamber. On today's pod, we're going to talk about local business news in the headlines
this week, how Trump's federal funding freeze is affecting Austin and the city is about
ready to issue big old fines for parking what you need to know. What does the economic
data really say about DEI? We'll be right back.
(00:44):
Howdy all. Hey, hello.
Hi, Colton Fiona and Amy.
I felt like I was in trouble.
I was like, Oh, God, what I do Colton Ray Colton Ray.
Yeah, I like it. Is that for real? Your middle name? Yes. Oh my God.
(01:09):
I feel like you need to say it with like a cigarette dangling from your lip. You know,
in the front yard, Kentucky waterfall.
I was named after my grandfather who was Raymond and then my uncle's Ray Dale.
Very glad I skipped out on that. Yeah. Ray Dale, Ray Dale Colton Ray is better.
Colton Ray. That's great. That's great.
(01:34):
What's the weekend haps now that we've got a change of plans?
Fun things to do breaking news. Small town big pride postponed. Yeah.
It's cold y'all. Too cold for Armadillos.
Way too cold. Yeah, we'll get to that in the event session.
What do y'all have on tab anything? What's going on your lives?
(01:57):
No, that was my plan. Share with the share with the folks out there.
I figured that I would get all the clothing that needs stitching that I keep saying,
oh, I should fix that. I should fix that.
And I'm just going to get a needle and thread out and so holes like the hole I have in my sweater.
Right here. I just fell asleep. I'm sorry.
What? That sounds terrible.
My plans aren't changing too much like location. Yes.
(02:21):
But I still would like to have a drink and just chill.
Agreed. Not outside. Yeah, that would be nice.
It's going to be bloody freezing. Why is anyone going to leave?
Why they make mugs?
That's all whiskey's for. Yeah, it's medicinal.
That's probably what I will do this weekend.
And now that I've put a kitchen together,
recovered from my head injury that I obtained.
(02:44):
That's right. Yeah, should see the other guy.
Oh, man. Amy took a tumble.
Don't try to shuffle across your bedroom floor,
your vinyl bedroom floor with wet feet.
Oh, yeah.
There's some staff around like household accidents.
Right. Well, I got to spend Monday, my day off in the ER.
(03:07):
Getting all the tests done.
It's good. It's a good way to celebrate President's Day.
Yeah. Yeah. Try and take myself out.
We had a little Airbnb in Wimbledon that tried to kill me on a routine basis.
I had a concussion from it.
Well, man, it's not fun. It's such a strange like recovery.
(03:29):
Yeah, because you're fuzzy for a couple days.
Oh, yeah. I wish I knew how long I was out.
Do you know, like, were you out out?
Um, I was pretty out of it because I somehow crawled into bed.
I do remember the least sexy noise leaving my body when I hit the floor.
I'd sounded like an 80 year old man who had just been punched in the diaphragm.
(03:56):
It was just like, oh, I'm so sad.
I would have been like from the living room.
You and a towel. Turn it off.
Well, plus I was like shuffling quickly because my pajamas were already on my bed.
And so I was like, you know, in a towel.
Waddling. Yeah, it was bad. It was not cute at all. It was very ungraceful.
(04:20):
So I got knocked out. I came, I was looking.
We had a little loft in a little Airbnb.
So the bed was up higher on a little riser kind of and then underneath was storage.
So I grabbed some things as storage and I came out from underneath the bed and I normally just kind of pop up and I hit the.
Oh, geez.
I hit the freaking beam above it.
Woke up with my eyeglass. That was back when I was wearing glasses.
What goes my eyeglasses? I kind of like across the room, a bigopilot drool and my face kind of stuck to the new flooring.
(04:47):
I'm like, how long have I been here?
Kind of scary, right?
I'm kind of hungry. So I feel like it's been a while.
Yeah, like, ah, man.
And even like the recovery period, like they say, don't, don't stay alone.
Oh, yeah.
And I live alone.
Like, what am I going to do?
Stay at your neighbor's.
(05:08):
You're like, hey, sup.
I live at the bar now.
Yeah. Well, needless to say, the ice capades are not in my future.
Sadly.
No, no.
Oh my God.
Well, I hope you get to feeling better soon.
So Trump's federal funding freeze.
Oh my God, I said his name on the podcast.
(05:30):
Voldemort.
Voldemort.
According to our friends at the Austin Monitor, they did a report talking about the local impact to Austin.
Around some of these federal freezes.
So a memo from Austin's Intergovernmental Relations Office talks about a couple of things that might be impacted.
The city gets about 1.2 billion in federal funds through various grants.
(05:51):
Those include things like the transportation projects we've got going on.
I-35 expansion mitigation efforts, safe streets for all.
Barton Springs bridge replacements, something within public health service,
39 million in federal funds for essential services, including vaccinations, TB clinics,
which is on the rise again, preventative screenings, nutritional support for women and children,
(06:14):
UT Austin's anticipating financial losses due to limitations on reimbursements for research on bio med projects.
So it's been back and forth in the courts.
It's been stopped and forwarded, stopped, forwarded.
There's so many people going, what the...
I mean, we're Texas.
I thought we'd be exempt from all of these federal cuts.
(06:37):
That doesn't count for us, does it?
Yeah.
If you would think.
It's amazing how many people are like, oh wait, this impacts me.
Not just those others.
Those others who are like me.
Yeah.
It's going to be an interesting time.
We'll have to see how people react to this and hopefully learn.
(06:59):
Maybe show up and vote.
I can't keep up.
I just can't keep up at all.
There's been like 100 EO executive orders.
Yeah.
And most of them are unconstitutional or just flat out illegal.
Yeah.
And then on top of that, they're confusing.
They're cutting out the team that's doing the bird flu.
Hello.
Yeah.
(07:20):
They cut out the team that's got the code to the nuclear reactors.
Hello.
That's going to make egg prices go down a lot.
I mean, if I'm a foreign country and I hate the United States,
this is like prime targeting time right now.
I could send in all kinds of missiles and kamikaze airplanes right now.
Right.
Because like nobody in the federal government knows what's going on.
But at least we're becoming besties with Russia.
(07:42):
So there's that.
That's right.
I mean, screw you, Europe and NATO.
Yeah.
Just give them Ukraine.
Just kind of sweep it there.
Shift the entire planet.
I feel like we're getting closer and closer to all those TV shows center out there.
Like Silo and Severance.
Actually, I would kind of welcome Severance right now.
(08:04):
Yeah.
Save.
You can just, you know, run real fast after a shower with no shoes on.
And slip and try taking.
Turn it off like a light switch.
Yeah.
Turn it off.
Yeah.
There's that too.
I thought you were going to keep singing.
Oh, no.
I think they've heard that one.
Yes.
These cuts are having consequences.
(08:25):
So let your elected officials at the federal level know that, you know, you like for people
to have, you know, healthcare and screenings and you don't want diseases going around.
Like the measles.
You would like to be able to have I-35 expansion redone.
You would like to have dilapidated bridges repaired here in town.
Like that would be great.
But we can't do all that one.
(08:46):
Just local taxes alone.
It does take all of us.
Wowie.
Our friends at the Austin Monarch also reporting about a new city council rules unanimously
voted to approve prohibitive parking in bike lanes.
Yeah.
(09:07):
Visitors, violators, sorry.
Violators are going to face fines from 50 to 300 bucks.
They are concerned about like food delivery and rideshare services that have been obstructing
bike lanes and forcing cyclists into traffic.
So there will be a little bit of a reprieve a couple of months to, or a couple of weeks
(09:28):
to kind of study the process, to educate the public and then see what we can do to improve
curbside spaces for deliveries.
But I'm here for it.
Oh, thank goodness.
I hate these twats that park in the bike lane on South Congress.
Oh, yeah.
I get road rage so bad on South Congress.
On your bike.
(09:49):
I'm not even riding a bike, but I'm pissed that someone will park in the bike lane and
then all the bikes and scooters are just not looking and going right in front of you.
Or people that don't know how to signal that they want to park and back in to park.
Oh, you know, who's going to really feel it is up by the domain at the, at the stadium,
(10:13):
at Q2 stadium.
Oh, because they put in a bunch of new bike lanes out there and there's just not enough
parking.
There's not drop off space up there.
So you get like the TNCs will drop near the stadium, but that's in a bike lane.
Well, I'm just meeting people who drive themselves and park over by Topgolf and that's all been
(10:34):
striped for bike lanes now.
Yeah.
But, um, oh, the whole, the entire, it's probably like 400 yards.
Yeah.
Lined with cars.
Yeah.
Just team.
There's a train that goes there and there's parking rides by these train stations.
Right.
Just start thinking differently about how you move about the city and quit parking in the
(10:55):
bike lanes.
It drives me.
I will like be on my bike and I'm not, I'm going to get shot one day for many reasons,
but like I was, I am that bicycle bicyclist that will like right up next to the car that's
in there and be like on their window.
Oh my God.
No way.
Yeah.
Especially like when we're biking to work and you go in Congress and people park in that
(11:17):
bike lane or they stop and they've got the warning.
Cause they've got to go to Royal blue and get their coffee.
So annoying.
And yeah, I, but I dare not put him bang on the window.
I just tried to give them a very, a silly English, you know, scow.
I'm over 50.
I don't care.
I just give the thumbs down.
I don't even give like the bird.
I'm just like, boo.
(11:38):
You suck at this.
Sometimes thumbs down is more effective.
It is like you just, you're just like, boo man.
Like that's, uh, you're real bad at this.
You need practice.
Yeah.
I'm glad.
I'm glad to see more bike lanes.
Number one.
And I'm glad to see the council voting unanimously on this one.
But at the same time too, right from a, the delivery folks, like there,
(12:03):
we do need to do a better job when they're designing new spaces, especially.
It drives me bananas when there's like a new hotel or a new thing.
And there's like no room for people to pull into or these residential,
like there's one down the way from us that where that man eats is.
And there's nowhere for anybody to pull into like a curb cut to drop
(12:24):
something off or to pick up somebody that lives there.
So they are kind of forced out on the street somewhere.
So I think it's, it's gotta be a part of like how we start building our city.
And the wine hotel.
Caesar's Chavez in Congress.
Yeah.
That's scary.
It's a horrible driveway.
I, I will say like coming in from the East side, it's real nice.
(12:45):
Okay.
Like the bike lane is nowhere near the street.
It's very intentional.
It kind of weaves through from the bus depot all the way out at like the junction
of Seventh, Fifth and Caesar Chavez.
Yeah.
And it just, once you finally get on the lane, it like goes in and out of hotels
and yeah, it's not a ton of road use.
(13:09):
We took a bike ride the other day when it was nice, that little patch of weather
that was good and jumped on from like somewhere downtown somewhere.
I forget where we popped in.
We just popped in by the, the Hyatt.
That's where it was.
And then cruise down, took that little boardwalk.
Really cute.
Went all the way out, ended up down by Pleasant Valley.
Had no idea.
We were all the way at Pleasant Valley.
(13:31):
And like, so it's just, it's nice to have options.
Did you wave at me when you passed by my apartment?
I did.
Yeah, we did actually.
Yeah.
And then we were so surprised by some of the kind of older apartments that are still
there that have like all these kayaks lined up behind them.
That's a cool place to live right there and have your little kayak and go in the water.
Living the Austin Dream, man.
(13:53):
It's all right, all right, all right.
So there was an amazing opinion piece and editorial piece in the Austin statesman the
other day.
Who wrote it?
CEO and president of the Austin Chamber.
Yours truly, I wrote a little ditty.
Talking about the impacts of DEI and the economic advantages.
(14:14):
So take a look at the report.
There's some great links to some of the actual data around it.
So for example, 2020 McKinsey and Company report indicated that companies with diverse
population or diverse supply chains experience 15 to 30% increase in revenue.
There's another study, 2022 by Deloitte that found that 57% of consumers prefer to purchase
(14:37):
from businesses that actively promote diversity.
It has an impact on consumer employee expectations, modern consumers and employees increasingly
demanding inclusivity among Gen Z.
76% state that a company's diversity efforts influence influences their purchasing decisions
and companies that retract DEI commitments risk damaging their brand and reputation.
(15:01):
There's an impact on Austin's growth.
Moving away from these initiatives really undermine the city's economic resilience.
We contribute as a community about 1.7 trillion to the US economy.
So this is not the time to retreat from your stances on DEI, but this is more of a push to really
include diversity into your normal business strategies and really not having to call it out as a special thing.
(15:26):
Just make it a part of what you do.
We can find out more on all those links to the studies at the statesman.
Search yours truly by name and you'll see the article pop up.
And it's on LinkedIn too, isn't it?
Posted on LinkedIn, Colton.
It is.
I think that with DEI I am looking forward to seeing how we're going to be more innovative
(15:47):
and bring new ways to do DEI into the workplace.
And one way that a corporation can uplift DEI is by becoming a member of the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
Amazing.
Yeah, that's the fact.
Because a 2024 study found that 64% of small businesses familiar with their, excuse me, 64% of respondents in a survey
(16:10):
familiar with their local chamber, they're more likely to purchase goods and services from a business they know and is a chamber member.
So chambers promote business of all sizes and all different ways.
And we love our corporate sponsors and we feel sad for those corporate sponsors that haven't yet joined us.
Right, if you were out there and your logo is not on our page.
(16:31):
So you really need to examine yourself.
Yeah, no, but we really do provide that connection for both the folks who are shopping or looking to do business with.
They check out our directory.
We connect them, the larger corporations with certified LGBT owned companies and a myriad of other educational opportunities.
But it's, this is not a time to back out.
(16:52):
Honestly, it's a competitive advantage really at this point.
I think the kind of the flag waving virtue signaling to the orange guy is coming to a quick ending and companies like Apple and Costco and a couple other big brands are like,
No, piss off.
We're going to stay exactly where we are.
We know there's data around that we know this is good for business.
(17:13):
Shareholders are suing companies that have started to retract going show us the financial standing for this.
What was the financial decision in this?
Yeah.
So bottom line, don't fuck it up anymore.
Dei and join your chamber.
And that's a great segue to our new section.
(17:34):
Fun facts with Fiona.
Oh my gosh, it's lighting me up.
Okay, so this week I decided to take the theme of a freeze and move it from federal funding freeze to freezing cold weather.
So the fun fact is, did you know that Antarctica, which is the coldest place on earth, hosted its first ever pride celebration in 2018?
(18:03):
A group of LGBTQ plus scientists and researchers stationed at Mc, mc, mido station decided to throw a pride party, even though it was freezing temperatures.
There wasn't even any daylight.
There's an iconic photo you can look up.
And of course this station in Antarctica primarily supports climate studies, glaciology, astrophysics and marine biology and 10 out of the roughly 113 people working out there identify as LGBTQIA plus.
(18:33):
That's exciting.
But now they're probably all fired.
I was wondering, all things.
Well, I mean, this was 2018 during the first, you know, present and like thing.
In normal times.
No, I mean, no, but like the guy was president.
Yeah, you didn't reach Antarctica at that time.
He probably thought it was like somebody's aunt.
(18:54):
He didn't know it was like an actual thing.
Probably don't know where Antarctica is exactly.
And for those who want to know, it's south of New Zealand.
It's stationed on Ross Island about 2,415 miles south of Christchurch, New Zealand and 850 miles from the South Pole.
That would be a really cold, right?
(19:16):
You imagine how many chops.
Definitely the leather community sitting this one out.
Oh boy.
That's a good fun fact.
Thanks.
Oh my goodness.
We're going to switch over and find out about our members.
We have a ton of members in our chamber and you too can become a member.
(19:41):
Let's give a little shout out to some of our new members.
Yeah, we have three new members.
Temple Beth Shalom.
Welcome.
More than just temple also a place to gather and, you know, reflect on some education.
(20:03):
I can never remember the name of the book that it's like a it's not it's anyway.
Podcast fail.
Yeah, I can never.
It's not there.
Not the Holy book, but the other one.
The it's like a book of educational stories and like values to live by.
It's not anything to do with scripture or prayer.
(20:25):
Yeah, which is great.
I love that they have like a whole community center.
Yes.
So two small town big pride members.
We have Chaperrill coffee.
Lovely.
And yes, self-explanatory.
And cult of happy.
A new art gallery on the square of Lockhart.
Yeah.
Cult.
(20:46):
Cult of happy.
Oh, my son's like, that's kind of cute.
Yeah.
The new music is that is something.
Just trying to break it up.
It really like completes.
I think it just kind of throws me off a little bit because I'm like, what is happening here?
It makes me feel even more that we're in a fish aquarium.
(21:07):
Yeah.
But it's like that background music and like video games.
Yeah.
Like when you're on the dashboard and you're trying to pick out your avatar, like, I love it.
Okay.
What do you got for events?
I'm not going to give you any music then.
Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
(21:28):
Well, first and foremost, our small town big pride.
No.
Small town big pride trip to Lockhart has been postponed due to a lot of people.
It's been postponed due to weather.
But that means it's going to be bigger, better and probably more businesses too to visit.
(21:49):
Yes.
We've already had a couple sign on since.
Yeah.
And we won't be freezing.
Yeah.
It'll be March people will be coming off of South by high.
They'll want to go outside.
It'll be a bigger crowd.
More, more friends to make.
Book your calendar for March 29th for small town.
And that's two days before a transgender day of visibility.
(22:10):
So we'll be able to weave that into potentially.
Yes.
And the seats on the bus are filling up very quickly.
So if you would like to ride the bus with us, go ahead and register now.
If you already purchased your bus ticket.
Yes.
Don't worry about it.
You will be able to get on the bus with that same ticket for March 29th.
If you're not able to make it, please email Amy and we'll get it taken care of for you.
(22:33):
Yeah.
On February 27th, we will be officially welcoming hope rising public health to the Austin LGBT
Chamber.
You can join us at data labs.
There is no need to RSVP for this event.
Just come hang out with us and Dr.
Ash.
There will be an interactive art installation refreshments and more.
Are you ready for South by Southwest?
(22:57):
Really?
If you know, Keras Wisher personally, please.
You know, Keras at Austin LGBT Chamber.com.
Yes.
You can find us at the 12th annual big queer kickoff party at rain on fourth on March 7th.
We will also have a discussion on the power of intersectional queer storytelling on March 8th
(23:19):
at Gina's on Congress.
Great South by lineup.
You can also register for our upcoming luncheon on March 5th at Hampton Inn home to sweets
on the east side.
Yes.
It's two hotels in one.
They share a building.
And it's a real cute building.
It's really cute and funky, like, you know, fun colors kind of pop arty.
(23:44):
Yeah.
That's great.
It's going to be a good time.
Be sure to check the calendar for all the details RSVP signing up all that stuff.
Perfect.
And then on March 25th, we will have our day at the Capitol with the Texas LGBTQ chambers
of commerce.
Registration for that event should be opening very, very soon.
(24:08):
But we will also have a reception the day before for those of you who are not familiar
with the Texas LGBTQ plus chambers of commerce that is Austin LGBT Chamber, San Antonio,
Houston and North Texas as well.
Don't be scared.
Don't be scared of going up to the legislature.
Here's your, here's my little tip.
Guys named Bubba.
When Bubba Ray go up there all the time and hell, half of them get elected.
(24:32):
So if they can do it, you can do it and we'll be right there with you.
We make it easy for you.
We do.
I was scared last time.
I promise it's easy.
Super easy.
Don't be scared.
I kind of find it fun.
It's like a scavenger hunt.
Yeah.
Here's your, you know, here's your little list.
Go out and find these offices.
We'll put you with a buddy that knows what they're doing and have your impact, have your say,
(24:55):
have your voice heard.
And we've got lots of member events coming up to one of those.
If you would like to be a pro for our advocacy day at the Capitol, equality, Texas is having
their all in for equality day the day before ours.
So you can go to the Capitol with them and then go with us again the next day.
Also in member events, we have Austin Pride Toastmasters weekly transmask and trans femme
(25:22):
workouts at Outwellness, South by Southwest Conference and Festival Leadership Austin
conference coming up very soon and it's Hack Perlman in recital at the Long Center.
Lots of events on there.
Go to AustinLGBTChamber.com.
If you just heard that listen, you go, what is a toast master?
Because you may be of a different generation that didn't grow up around that.
(25:45):
It is a wonderful way to get yourself to be more confident as a public speaker.
Yeah.
Join that group, pop in, don't feel bad, like everybody's there to learn how to be a better
public speaker as I just fumble the word better.
But it gives you confidence to stand up there, confidence to make it through a mistake,
(26:06):
confidence to keep going and learn what your little ticks are that you might not know.
Oh yeah.
The fact that I have not been forced to go to one of these yet blows my mind.
I say, we had to do that in theater too.
We had like a whole week on just monologues and getting the feedback on what you do is
(26:29):
so weird, like and then hearing yourself and reading the feedback you're like, oh boy.
Monologues were always easier for me because I'm not being myself.
So like I had something happening inside my head that was not freaking out.
Oh, you mean like a script?
Yeah.
This is like improv kind of stuff where they would give you a topic and then you just had
(26:50):
to go for five minutes.
Love it.
Yeah.
Let's do it.
We need a group improv class.
Who owns an improv studio out there that wants to host us in class and then we'll put on
a show.
I took an improv class in New York City in 2013.
Oh, wow.
Oh, it's terrifying.
I love them.
I think they're hysterical.
(27:13):
I'm more of a no and person.
Not a yes and.
Wow.
I mean.
Well, as always, thanks for joining us.
If you want to learn more about becoming a member of the Chamber of our events, visit
us at AustinLGBTChamber.com.
If you want to be a guest or a sponsor, email us at info at AustinLGBTChamber.com.
(27:34):
Check out our show every Friday, wherever you get your podcasts.
Be sure to follow us.
Thanks and we'll talk next time.
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