Transparently Speaking

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Diana and Joy share their ongoing frustration with the ever increasing barriers to gender-affirming care, as shrinking access to providers and continued uncertainty leave families feeling increasingly powerless. Diana reflects on Clark’s interest in teaching guitar and her concerns about protecting him from discrimination, while Joy shares news of a "first da...

Send us Fan Mail When a trans son says his country doesn't want him in it, what do you say? This episode explores belonging, parental fear, and letting kids find their own way, plus the records that can follow trans young adults, from background checks to Selective Service. It closes with an update on a new name at school and why understanding the why makes change easier. If you’re taking som...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 129 begins with updates from Joy on the journey towards her daughter's desired surgery, and continues with examples from both Diana and Joy of how anti-trans narratives are seeping into the language and beliefs of our allies.   This episode also includes Diana's frank recognition of our culturally normative language of "boy/girl" at birth, which perpetu...

Send us Fan Mail Insurance says surgery is covered at 18, but the process tells a different story. In this episode, one mom breaks down what she's learned chasing gender-affirming surgery access for her daughter, including a wait list that pushes actual surgery closer to age 20, and international options she's researching in parallel, with hopes of having it done before college. The conv...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Diana and Joy explore “gender noise” — the background thoughts many transgender people experience about safety, bathrooms, being outed (and general thoughts as they navigating the current environment). They reflect on how this "noise" may show up differently as their trans kids grow up, and they also reflect on their current experiences navigating health...

Send us Fan Mail Diana and Joy catch up on a summer full of both medical logistics and hard moments. Diana walks through the challenge of scheduling Dinah's first blood draw around needle anxiety, and the added caution hospitals are showing around gender-affirming care even as federal pressure on Medicaid and Medicare funding appears to be easing. Joy shares a surprisingly smooth visit to Pla...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Joy and Diana share their progress in searching for medical care for their transgender kids after their previous providers stopped providing care in January. Joy shares details about her first meeting with Samantha's new provider, and Diana talks about taking Dinah out of state for care. Diana also shares insights and updates about her road trip home with Cla...

Send us Fan Mail Diana sits down with Aidan, founder, and Johnny, CEO, of TransFamilies — an organization that has spent over two decades building community and support for parents and caregivers of gender-diverse, transgender, and non-binary children. Aidan shares how TransFamilies came to exist, what it looks like to walk into a support group for the first time, and why the organization meets fa...

Send us Fan Mail In our 5th Annual Pride Month letter, Diana and Joy speak directly to their children, to transgender youth, and to every family navigating a world that continues to make trans existence extremely challenging.  They reflect on fear and exhaustion while reminding listeners that history has always moved forward because brave, resilient humans refuse to disappear. Pride is not only a...

Send us Fan Mail Diana shares an encouraging update after a virtual consultation with a new gender-affirming care provider. Joy & Diana discuss what makes a provider stand out, the therapist letter process, and the real barriers they continue to navigate on the path to care. If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review;...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Diana opens up about the frustration and emotional exhaustion of facing yet another barrier while seeking a provider for youth gender-affirming care (GAC). Listen in to understand new challenges related to transitioning care across state lines and explore how this barrier raises questions about medical ethics and whether hospital administrators fully understand th...

Send us Fan Mail Five years ago, Joy and Diana were talking bathing suits and holiday cards. Today, they're talking survival. In this honest check-in, they share what survival mode really looks like — stepping back from the news, scaling down work, and finding distractions just to keep anxiety at bay. They also get into the practical stuff still on their plates: finding gender-affirming care,...

Send us Fan Mail Join Joy and Diana as they reflect on Spring Break experiences If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people we can reach and support. As always, feel free to reach out to us at transparentlyspeakingpodcast@gmail.com .

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we continue the conversation on transgender dating through the lens of parents navigating both their transgender teen’s experience and the perspectives of their cisgender sibling. After listening to the Taboo Science podcast on dating, we explore how beliefs, assumptions, and social norms shape reactions to attraction, disclosure, and identity. What does it look l...

Send us Fan Mail Join Joy and Diana as they share the latest trans related news headlines, and how they are processing and navigating sensational news when it directly impacts them and when it doesn't.  Key takeaways include being critical in assessing the news, sources, and being intentional about managing energy and wellness in navigating media consumption. If you’re taking something away f...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when your teen is dating, and their partner doesn’t know they’re transgender? In this episode, we explore the complex reality of transgender teen dating, including the ethical questions around disclosure in relationships. When is the “right” time to tell? Is there an obligation to disclose? How do privacy, trust, and safety intersect in adolescent relationships? From...

Send us Fan Mail In episode #115, Joy and Diana share what they're learning and how they are exploring options to support their kids by seeking gender-affirming care after their providers and clinics stopped providing care to youth under 19.   If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review; the more listeners and reviews...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when gender-affirming care for transgender youth suddenly becomes uncertain? In this episode, we share a real-time look at what families are facing as gender-affirming clinics pause or stop care, along with the emotional toll, urgent decision-making, and quiet self-advocacy that follow. This is a conversation about endurance, adaptation, and finding steadiness as acce...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in this episode as Diana helps Joy reflect upon and process the 5 minute window during which Joy thought her and Samantha's name change information (and photo) were shared publicly on social media.   If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people w...

Send us Fan Mail Last week brought a surge of anti-trans legislation proposals that felt impossible to ignore, especially for families raising transgender kids. In this episode, we step away from our planned content and talk honestly about what it’s like to live inside this moment, in real time. We share how these proposals land differently depending on where our kids are in their journeys, how we...

Send us Fan Mail Join Diana and Joy as they reflect on the people and things they are grateful for during this holiday season.  Although they've faced many challenges (and anticipate more), there is still much to be grateful for!  Plus - the saying "where attention goes, energy flows" is real!  Science continues to provide evidence that the practice of gratitude can help regulate st...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we unpack what happens when an adult in a position of authority chooses “respect” over real understanding, and how that choice shapes a transgender child’s daily experience.  A recent school meeting revealed just how much harm comes from assumptions, unchecked bias, and a teacher’s refusal to learn about gender, even after years of knowing a student. If you’re tak...

Send us Fan Mail Joy and Diana open up about their current challenges amid the ongoing attacks on youth gender affirming care. They discuss the real-world hurdles of managing prescription renewals, medication access, and insurance barriers. The episode also offers an inside look at Samantha’s upcoming endocrinology appointment and the thoughtful planning behind timelines and next steps for blocker...

Send us Fan Mail Diana and Joy share the profound isolation of raising transgender children while maintaining their privacy. They discuss why they limit who knows their children's identities, the risks they're protecting against, and the loneliness of being unable to share their biggest challenges with friends and family. A raw conversation about the emotional cost of keeping their child...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Transparently Speaking , Joy and Diana explore the challenge for everyone in adopting new names and pronouns.  They share personal stories and reflect on how it feels when someone dismisses or neglects pronouns, how to respond (or not), and how allies can do better.  If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to p...