Meet Maxwell Joy Moore

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maxwell Joy Moore. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maxwell Joy below.

Maxwell Joy, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
My purpose lies in producing podcasts and poetry for a more accessible world. I found my purpose when I became disabled a decade ago through an initial relapse which led me to a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (an autoimmune brain injury that affects the entire body). I remember that Spring was in the air when I made the decision to create my own podcast and I could see the leaves floating in the air as I watched the day pass from my bed. It was from that extremely inaccessible fourth floor walkup apartment that I created POWER NOT PITY, a podcast about the lives and loves of disabled people of color. Since 2017, I have adopted a lifestyle as a disability justice advocate, poet, performer, and dialogue facilitator.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Professionally, I’m creating more accessible media for disabled people of color (more specifically Black trans disabled people) to enjoy. Here is one of my official bios, you can use the information as you see fit:

Maxwell Joy Moore (ze/they) is a poet, podcaster and political agitator with a fierce desire to create fresh and irresistible narratives about the Black trans disabled experience. A true storyteller at heart, Max began zir podcast in 2017 with the intention of amplifying the often-invisibilized worlds of disabled people, thought and culture. While continuing zir podcast, POWER NOT PITY, Maxwell is currently writing poetry that opens up worlds for those of us who feel unheard yet unafraid. Most recently, Maxwell became a 2023 Zoeglossia fellow and ze was also recently featured in Autostraddle as one of their “19 Disabled LGBT Fashion Icons”. Ze will always be a Jamaican-American, neutrois, neuroexpansive and disabled alien-prince from the Bronx.

I am also developing a substack called “The Maxwell Joy Moore Universe” and it is a place for Black disabled trans people to come and feel safe and seen. It is a place to access information about the art and poetry I produce. I wrote a chapbook over the course of the past three years and I plan to release it serially over the course of several months.

My Patreon account (patreon.com/powernotpity) is more connected to my work as a podcaster. There, you can access exclusive tiered content from POWER NOT PITY, including a show shoutout, suggested choice of guest, and early release of show’s signature catchphrase: “what’s your disabled power?”

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Three things that were most impactful in my journey was therapy, setting boundaries with myself and other people, and consistently connecting with queer and trans community. These three things have been at the cornerstone of how I move through the world as a Black, trans disabled person in the past three years. It wasn’t until I learned more of how to regulate my emotions through Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (aka DBT) that I was able to gain a clearer sense of what’s been most impactful in my professional and personal life. I honestly think that every human could benefit from learning more about one’s own personal emotions and how they work.

I’m a big believer in being the change you want to see in the world. I know it sounds cheesy but if there’s no seat at the table, I will be bringing my wheelchair (to misquote Shirley Chisholm)! In this same vein, after starting my medical transition last year, I noticed that there was a serious lack of spaces devoted to Black trans masculine people on hormones to process their transitions, so I created a writing group called: “Writing on T: Rituals and Writing Prompts from a Black trans* perspective”. Creating this group has been one of the most valuable and sacred spaces I have ever participated in.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
One challenge I’m currently facing is knowing when to listen to my intuition and when to authentically choose myself above all costs. I’m asking all the Black LGBTQIA+ elders how they have been able to listen to their own wisdom. One such elder, acclaimed backup singer to the disco stars, LZ Love, responded to my question by saying that she regularly builds up her spiritual reserves when she needs to before consulting the Universe. As an alien-prince, I believe that the Universe listens, so you must be impeccable with your word.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
All images were taken/ manipulated by me. POWER NOT PITY’s logo was created in collaboration with communications professional Prerna Sampat.

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